ISO 9001 Clause 10.2 Nonconformity and corrective action
- wilkshireconsulting
- May 8
- 3 min read
Updated: May 9
In ISO 9001 10.2 Nonconformity and corrective action focuses on ensuring that organizations not only fix problems when they occur but also identify the root causes and prevent recurrence, which is critical for maintaining a strong and reliable QMS.
When something goes wrong (a nonconformity) it needs more than a quick fix. Clause 10.2 outlines a structured approach for addressing nonconformities and implementing corrective actions that go beyond symptoms.
In this blog post we will be discussing the following:
What to do when a nonconformity occurs
Retain documented information
Key concepts of 10.2
International Organization for Standardization. ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems – Requirements
10.2 Nonconformity and corrective action
10.2.1 When a nonconformity occurs, including any arising from complaints, the organization shall:
a) react to the nonconformity and, as applicable:
1) take action to control and correct it;
2) deal with the consequences;
b) evaluate the need for action to eliminate the cause(s) of the nonconformity, in order that it does not recur or occur elsewhere, by:
1) reviewing and analysing the nonconformity;
2) determining the causes of the nonconformity;
3) determining if similar nonconformities exist, or could potentially occur;
c) implement any action needed;
d) review the effectiveness of any corrective action taken;
e) update risks and opportunities determined during planning, if necessary;
f) make changes to the quality management system, if necessary.
Corrective actions shall be appropriate to the effects of the nonconformities encountered.
10.2.2 The organization shall retain documented information as evidence of:
a) the nature of the nonconformities and any subsequent actions taken;
b) the results of any corrective action.
What to do when a nonconformity occurs
When a nonconformity is identified either internally or externally, the organization must:
1. React to the nonconformity
· Take immediate action to control and correct it.
· Contain the problem, if necessary (stop production, quarantine defective products).
· Adress the consequences, such as informing customers or replacing defective items.
2. Evaluate the need for corrective action
· Determine why the nonconformity happened.
· Perform root cause analysis (using the 5 Whys, fishbone diagram, etc).
· Assess whether similar issues might exist or could arise.
3. Implement corrective action
· Eliminate the root cause(s).
· Apply actions that prevent recurrence.
· Ensure actions are appropriate to the effects and risks of the nonconformity.
4. Review the effectiveness of the corrective action
· Monitor and verify that the corrective action has worked.
· Ensure the same or similar problem does not happen again.
5. Update risks and opportunities (if needed)
· Consider whether this nonconformity affects the organization’s assessments.
· Update the risk register or quality objectives accordingly.
6. Make necessary changes to the QMS
· Adjust processes, procedures, documentation, training, etc., to reflect the lessons learned.
Retain documented information
The organization must retain records (documented information) as evidence of:
· The nature of the nonconformity
· Actions taken
· The results of the corrective actions
This ensures transparency and enables continual learning.
Key concepts of 10.2
Concept – Description
Nonconformity – Failure to meet a requirement (customer specs, ISO clause, internal procedure).
Correction – an immediate fix (reworking a defective product).
Corrective action – a deeper, preventive fix – removing the root cause.
Root cause analysis – investigation to find the actual origin of the issue, not just its symptom.
Effectiveness review – Ensuring the corrective action really solved the issue long-term.
In conclusion, clause 10.2 Nonconformity and corrective action emphasizes organizations to not just fix problems but preventing them from happening again by identifying and eliminating root causes. It promotes a disciplined, evidence-based approach to problem-solving that strengthens the QMS and protects customer trust. Documenting these activities ensures accountability and enables organizational learning over time. In the next blog post we will be discussing 10.3 Continual improvement.
Related blog posts –
ISO 9001 Clause 10.1 General
ISO 9001 Clause 10 Improvement Overview
ISO 9001 Clause 9 Performance Evaluation Overview
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Great breakdown of ISO 9001 Clause 10.2—this actually brought back memories from when we had a similar nonconformity issue in our university research project. We kept fixing the surface problem until someone finally suggested a proper root cause analysis—made all the difference! I remember using Dissertation Writing Help UAE around that time too when I was under so much pressure to get everything right in my thesis. Their structured, quality-focused approach surprisingly mirrored the ISO logic—you fix the cause, not just the problem. Honestly, that mindset stuck with me ever since!