What Is a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) in QC?

What is a corrective action plan (CAP)?

A corrective action plan (CAP) is the supplier's written response to problems found in an inspection or audit. For each finding it states the root cause, the action that will remove it, who is responsible, the deadline and how the fix will be verified. A good CAP fixes the process, not only the faulty units.

Last reviewed 14 Oct 2026 · Written by Guman Singh

Correction is not corrective action

Repairing the 12 drawers that stick is a correction: it fixes these units. Finding out why they stick and changing that is corrective action: it stops the next order from having the same fault. Under time pressure, the first is easily presented as the second. Ask "why" until the answer is something the factory can change, such as a worn jig, a missing check or an unclear specification.

Example of a CAP

Finding	Root cause	Action	Owner and date	Verified by
Drawer runners fitted out of square on chests of drawers	Worn drilling jig	New jig; first 10 units checked each shift	Production head, before assembly resumes	Next inspection, runners checked on every sampled unit
Barcode labels missing on some cartons	Label printer failed; no check at the packing station	All cartons relabelled; barcode scan added at packing	Packing supervisor, before reinspection	Random cartons scanned at reinspection
No record of incoming fabric checks (audit)	No written procedure	Roll log for GSM and shade on receipt	QC manager, before the next order is cut	Log reviewed at the next DUPRO

Each row ends in a check by someone other than the person who made the fix. Without that column, a CAP is a promise.

How Clear To Load works with CAPs

The plan belongs to the factory, because only the factory can change its process. In a during-production inspection, our inspector records each systematic defect with the action and date agreed with the factory. After a factory audit, the scored gaps give the factory a ready list to answer. After a Hold or Not cleared verdict we can explain each finding and help you agree actions with the supplier. The follow-up visit or pre-shipment inspection then checks that the actions were made.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a factory get to answer with a CAP?

Set it in your supplier terms. For an inspection failure, the plan is usually needed before rework starts, so it can guide the rework. For audit findings, longer deadlines make sense for changes such as new equipment.

Is a CAP the same as CAPA?

CAPA means corrective and preventive action. Preventive action looks for problems that have not happened yet. In buyer-supplier practice the two terms are often used loosely for the same document.