ISO 9001 Non-Conformities and Corrective Actions Management Template

Organizations seeking to comply with ISO 9001 - a quality management standard widely accepted  must manage nonconformities effectively and take corrective actions. Nonconformities or deviations from specific requirements can occur in any organisation and have a significant impact on product quality, customer service, and business performance. ISO 9001 is a framework that helps identify, document, analyze, and address nonconformities, as well as implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence. 

Understanding Non-Conformities in ISO 9001

Nonconformity is any deviation from the standards or requirements specified in ISO 9001. Understanding nonconformities can help ensure compliance with ISO 9001 and improve overall quality.Nonconformities are a key aspect of ISO 9001.

• Nonconformity: The failure to meet a requirement discovered during an audit, review, or inspection. A nonconformity can be the failure to meet a standard, a lack in documentation or deviation from established procedures.

• Types of non-conformities: Nonconformities are classified as major or minor based on their impact on a quality management system. Major non-conformities can have a significant impact on the ability of a system to reach its goals, while minor ones are less impactful.

• Identification and Documentation : Nonconformities must be documented and recorded on a log or report. The report should contain details, such as the type of nonconformity and its location. It also includes any supporting evidence.

• Root Cause Analysis: It is essential to perform a root-cause analysis whenever a nonconformity happens to identify the cause. Investigating the causes of the nonconformity, and taking corrective measures to prevent recurrence are part of this process.

• Corrective and Preventive Measures: Corrective measures are taken to correct nonconformities that have already occurred, while preventive measures are taken to prevent the recurrence in future of nonconformities similar. These actions must be effective, documented, and appropriate.

• Review and follow-up: Nonconformities must be evaluated and reviewed as part of management reviews. This will help to ensure the correct actions are taken and that nonconformities are resolved.

• Continuous Improvement: The ISO 9001 process of continuous improvement includes the management of nonconformities. By identifying and addressing any nonconformities, organizations can learn from past mistakes and improve the quality of their management system.

Understanding nonconformities within ISO 9001 will help you maintain compliance and improve your quality management system. By identifying, investigating and taking the appropriate actions, organizations can improve their overall quality performance and ensure compliance with requirements.

Corrective Actions: They are Important

The ISO 9001 process for managing nonconformities is not complete without corrective actions. Corrective actions can be taken to address the underlying causes of nonconformities, and help prevent them from recurring. This will ensure compliance with ISO 9001 and improve overall business performance.

Corrective actions help identify and eliminate inefficiencies and waste. They can also improve customer satisfaction. This allows the organization to continuously improve its quality system by implementing preventive actions and learning from nonconformities. A proactive approach to corrective measures demonstrates an organization's commitment to continuous improvements, which can increase customer loyalty and competitiveness.

How to use the template

The yellow numbers on the Nonconformities & Corrective Actions Management need to be addressed. Here are the details.

1. Revision history of the document

Revision Number : in the following order 00,01,02, etc.
Date: Date of Revision in dd/mm/yyyy
Prepared by: Name of person who prepared document.
Reviewed by: Name of person who reviewed document after revision.
Approved by: Name of person who has approved the document following revision.
Description: Describe your revision


2. Insert Name of Company
3. Select the appropriate option from the list below

IMS – Integrated Management System i.e. ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018.
QMS – Quality Management System, i.e. ISO 9001:2015
EMS - Environmental Management system, i.e., ISO 14001:2015
ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OHSMS)


4. Additions to the Organization

5. Add any category according to the Organization

6. Add the list according to the Organization's working modules, and modify it as required

7. Example NC Communication flow shown in Figure 2. Modified as per Organization

8. Example Rejected Tag in Figure 3 modified according to Organization

9. Add the appropriate audience according to the Organization

10. Modify according to the Organization.

Monitoring and Measuring Success of Corrective Actions

After corrective measures have been taken, organizations need to monitor and measure the effectiveness of those actions. This is a crucial step to ensure the corrective actions have addressed the root cause of nonconformities, and that they will not recur.

Organizations can use key performance indicators to monitor and measure corrective action success. These KPIs should be aligned with the quality objectives. These KPIs may include metrics like the number of nonconformities that are resolved, the time it takes to implement corrective measures and the reduction of repeat incidents.You can also conduct regular audits and inspections to assess the effectiveness of corrective measures. These audits identify areas of improvement or gaps in the nonconformities process. This allows organizations to make necessary changes to comply with ISO 9001.

Organizations should also consider soliciting feedback from external stakeholders and customers. This feedback can give valuable insight into the effectiveness and areas for improvement of corrective action.Organizations can improve their nonconformities process by monitoring and measuring its effectiveness. This commitment to continuous improvements will address existing nonconformities, and prevent future ones. It will also enhance customer satisfaction and business performance.

Continuous Improvement in Non-Conformities Management

In order to ensure that corrective actions are effective and sustainable, organizations need to adopt a culture of continual improvement in the nonconformities process. It is important to constantly review and revise the process in order to identify improvements and implement them.

Analysing the data collected through monitoring and measurement is one way to improve continuously. Organizations can identify trends and patterns by carefully examining KPIs and metrics. This analysis can give valuable insight into the effectiveness and efficiency of corrective measures, as well as help prioritize improvement efforts.

Organisations should encourage a proactive management of nonconformities. It involves encouraging employees to promptly report nonconformities and promote a culture that encourages learning from mistakes and the sharing of best practices. In an open, collaborative environment, companies can use their employees' collective expertise and knowledge to improve the nonconformities process.

The Conclusion 

In conclusion, a culture that encourages continuous improvement is essential for ISO 9001 compliance. Analyzing data and metrics allows organizations to gain valuable insight into their actions. They can then prioritize improvement efforts. Encouragement of a proactive attitude that empowers staff to report nonconformities and deal with them promptly promotes a collaborative atmosphere that encourages learning and the sharing of best practices. For success, it is also important to stay up-to-date with the latest ISO 9001 developments and review and update nonconformity management procedures regularly.