CAPA tracking software
CAPA workflow explained: from open action to verified closure
A corrective action is not complete because somebody changed a status cell. A defensible CAPA process must show the problem, owner, deadline, evidence, reviewer and complete decision history.
What is a CAPA workflow?
CAPA means corrective and preventive action. Corrective action addresses an identified failure; preventive action reduces the chance of recurrence elsewhere. A controlled workflow gives every action an accountable owner and a reviewable route to closure.
The four practical stages
- Open: record the finding, risk, owner and due date.
- In progress: complete the agreed work and retain supporting evidence.
- Pending verification: a different authorised person checks whether the action is effective.
- Closed: preserve the evidence, sign-off and status history.
Why independent verification matters
The person completing an action should not normally be the only person deciding that it worked. Segregation of duties strengthens governance and makes the closure easier to defend during an audit or investigation.
What CAPA tracking software should provide
- Role-based ownership and target dates
- Evidence attachments and closure notes
- Overdue escalation and management visibility
- Independent verification or rejection
- An immutable audit history of each transition