CAPAliknande

CAPAliknande is a term used in Swedish and Nordic quality-management discussions to describe practices that resemble the CAPA concept—Corrective and Preventive Action—without necessarily adhering to formal CAPA standards. The word combines CAPA with the suffix -liknande, meaning “similar to” or “akin to,” signaling a partial or informal alignment with CAPA principles.

The term is employed to discuss how organizations identify nonconformities, analyze root causes, implement corrective measures, and attempt preventive actions, even when the process is not fully formalized. It is common in internal audits, training materials, and early-stage improvement efforts across industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and information technology services.

CAPAliknande typically emphasizes practical improvements and quick wins, but may lack formal documentation, standardized methodologies, or explicit verification of effectiveness. It is not a substitute for a formal CAPA process; rather, it describes a pragmatic approach that borrows elements of CAPA without meeting all regulatory or procedural criteria.

Critics warn that overuse of CAPAliknande can lead to inconsistent results, reduced traceability, and potential regulatory risk if issues are not adequately investigated or validated. Proponents argue that, when clearly scoped and monitored, CAPAliknande can accelerate improvements in settings where full CAPA implementation is not feasible.

See also: CAPA, quality management, corrective action, preventive action, nonconformity.