What is meant by 'corrective action' within ISO 9001?

'Corrective action' within ISO 9001 refers specifically to actions aimed at eliminating the cause of a detected nonconformity. This process is integral to the quality management system as it ensures that issues are not just addressed in the short term but are resolved at their root, preventing recurrence. The approach emphasizes systematic investigation and analysis to understand why a nonconformity occurred, leading to changes that can effectively improve processes, products, and overall performance. This aligns with ISO 9001's preventative spirit, promoting continual improvement as a core goal of quality management.

Other actions mentioned, such as improving employee morale, enhancing marketing efforts, or increasing production speed, do not directly relate to the corrective action defined by ISO 9001, since they do not specifically focus on addressing deficiencies or nonconformities within the quality management system. Instead, these initiatives may be part of broader business strategies, but they do not encompass the specific intent of corrective action as outlined in the standard.