avvik

Avvik is a term used in Norwegian and Swedish to denote a deviation or discrepancy from a standard, expectation, or reference value. It describes a difference between what was observed or planned and what is considered normal, allowed, or expected in a given context. The concept is used across disciplines, including statistics, quality management, engineering, healthcare, and project planning.

In statistics and data analysis, avvik refers to the amount by which a value differs from a reference, such as a mean or target. It can be expressed as an absolute deviation or a relative one (percent). Related ideas include residuals, variance, and standard deviation, with avvik highlighting the difference itself rather than the overall distribution.

In quality assurance and regulated industries, avvik is a formal term for deviations from procedures, specifications, or regulatory requirements. Such deviations are typically recorded in an avviksrapport (deviation report) and may prompt investigations and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to improve processes, ensure safety, and maintain compliance.

In planning and operations, avvik describes departures from a project plan, schedule, budget, or performance targets. Organizations monitor avvik to assess risk, inform decision-making, and implement corrective measures to realign activities with objectives.

Etymology stems from the universal concept of turning away from a given standard, and the term is commonly used in Nordic languages to focus on discrepancies that require attention or action. While the severity and implications of avvik vary by field, the core idea remains the same: identifying, documenting, and addressing deviations from expected or approved baselines.