Quality & Inspections · Best Practice · Construction

Corrective Action Report

A report documenting corrective actions taken in response to non-conformances or audit findings.

Last reviewed: 29 March 2026 — This guide reflects UK law as of this date. Contract / ISO 9001 remains current with no amendments enacted as of 29 March 2026. Next scheduled review: 29 March 2027.

Legal basis	Contract / ISO 9001:2015 (Clause 10.2)
What a CAR is	Addresses ROOT CAUSE of nonconformance — triggered when NCRs recur, audit finds systemic weakness, or significant NCR reveals process failure
ISO 9001 Clause 10.2	React, evaluate need for root cause elimination, implement actions, review effectiveness, update QMS
Root cause analysis	5 Whys, Fishbone (Ishikawa), Fault tree analysis
CAR vs NCR	NCR is what was wrong and how fixed; CAR is why it happened and what systemic change prevents recurrence

1. The CAR — Preventing Recurrence Through Root Cause Analysis

The Corrective Action Report is the quality management system's learning mechanism. While an NCR records what went wrong and how it was fixed, the CAR asks why it happened and what systemic change will prevent it from happening again. It addresses root causes, not just symptoms.

ISO 9001:2015 Clause 10.2 requires organisations to react to nonconformities, evaluate the need for action to eliminate root causes, implement corrective actions, review their effectiveness, and update the QMS where necessary. A CAR is triggered when NCRs recur, when an audit reveals a systemic weakness, or when a significant NCR reveals a process failure that demands more than a simple correction.

Root cause analysis tools range from the simple 5 Whys technique, which is practical for most construction quality issues, through to Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagrams that map causes across categories such as materials, methods, manpower, and machinery, and Fault Tree Analysis for more complex failure modes. The chosen method must be proportionate to the significance of the nonconformance.

The 5 Whys technique

The 5 Whys technique is the most practical root cause tool for most construction CARs. Keep asking “why” until you reach the systemic cause — stopping at “human error” is never an acceptable root cause because it does not identify the process or system failure that allowed the error to occur.

2. Corrective Action Report — Content

The CAR must document the full corrective action cycle from trigger event through root cause analysis, proposed actions, implementation, effectiveness review, and any resulting updates to the quality management system. Each field supports the ISO 10.2 requirement for a systematic approach to eliminating root causes.

The effectiveness review is particularly important. It must be carried out at an appropriate interval after implementation to confirm that the corrective action has actually prevented recurrence.

Column	Description
CAR number	Unique sequential identifier for each corrective action report
Date raised	Date the CAR was formally raised following identification of the systemic issue
Trigger	The event that triggered the CAR — recurring NCRs, audit finding, significant NCR, management review
Problem statement	Clear factual statement of the problem including the pattern of nonconformance or systemic weakness identified
Root cause analysis	Documented root cause analysis using 5 Whys, Fishbone (Ishikawa), or Fault tree method
Proposed corrective actions	Specific actions to address the root cause and prevent recurrence, with named responsible persons and target dates
Action implementation	Confirmation that each proposed action has been implemented, with date and evidence
Effectiveness review	Review carried out after implementation to confirm the corrective actions have been effective in preventing recurrence
QMS update required	Whether the corrective action requires updates to ITP, method statements, procedures, or other QMS documents
Closed by	Name, role, date, and signature of the person formally closing the CAR following effectiveness review
Reviewed by	Senior management review and sign-off confirming the CAR process was properly followed

3. Common Mistakes

Completing CARs as a paper exercise without real changes

A CAR that identifies a root cause and proposes corrective actions but does not result in any actual change to processes, procedures, or behaviours is a waste of time. The value of the CAR is in the systemic change it drives. If nothing changes after the CAR, the same problems will recur.

Not identifying CARs when NCRs recur

Recurring NCRs are the clearest signal that a CAR is needed. If the same type of nonconformance keeps appearing — concrete cover failures, fire stopping defects, waterproofing issues — treating each as an isolated NCR without raising a CAR means the root cause is never addressed.

Root cause analysis that stops at human error

Human error is never an acceptable root cause because it does not identify the systemic failure that allowed the error to occur. The analysis must continue beyond the individual to the process, training, supervision, communication, or design issue that created the conditions for the error.

Not updating ITP/QMS documents when a gap is revealed

When a CAR reveals that the ITP, method statement, or other QMS document was inadequate, those documents must be updated as part of the corrective action. A CAR that identifies a procedural gap but does not close it by updating the relevant document is incomplete.

No time allocated for effectiveness review

The effectiveness review is the step that confirms the corrective action actually worked. It must be scheduled at an appropriate interval after implementation — typically 4-8 weeks. Without this review, there is no evidence that the corrective action prevented recurrence.

4. Frequently Asked Questions

Is a CAR required for every NCR?▾

No — a CAR is only required when NCRs reveal a systemic issue. A single isolated nonconformance is typically resolved through the NCR correction and disposition process. A CAR is triggered when NCRs recur, when an audit identifies a systemic weakness, or when a significant NCR reveals a fundamental process failure.

What is the difference between a correction and a corrective action?▾

A correction fixes the specific issue — for example, breaking out and re-pouring a concrete element that failed testing. A corrective action addresses the root cause to prevent recurrence — for example, revising the concrete mix approval process, retraining operatives, or updating the ITP to add an additional hold point.

Who implements corrective actions?▾

Each corrective action in the CAR must have a named responsible person with a target completion date. The responsible person implements the action and provides evidence of implementation. The QA manager tracks progress and the effectiveness review confirms the action was effective.

Must CARs be shared with the client?▾

CARs are typically reviewed at quality management meetings with the client. Sharing CARs demonstrates that the project's QMS is actively learning from nonconformances and improving processes. For higher-risk projects, clients may require formal review and approval of CARs before closure.

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