Describe the problem precisely
State what happened, where, when and what it affected. Vague descriptions lead to vague fixes. Link the record to the evidence: the specimen, the batch, the equipment.
Find the root cause
The first cause you find is usually a symptom. Keep asking why until you reach something you can change in a process, a document or a training plan, not just a person to blame.
Separate correction from prevention
Correction fixes the immediate problem; corrective action removes its cause; preventive action stops similar problems elsewhere. Record each one, with an owner and a due date.
Check that it worked
Closing a CAPA without verifying effectiveness is the most common gap an assessor finds. Define how you will know the action worked, and look again after an agreed time.
Common questions
Corrective action addresses the cause of a problem that has occurred. Preventive action addresses a potential problem before it occurs.
The number matters less than whether they close on time and whether the same causes recur. Recurring causes show that actions are not effective.