avvikelse

Avvikelse is a noun used in Scandinavian languages, most commonly Swedish and Norwegian, to denote a deviation, discrepancy or anomaly from a standard, expectation or rule. The term derives from the verb avvika, meaning to deviate or diverge. It is applied to departures from defined norms, procedures, or plans, as well as to unusual events in data, processes or outcomes.

In statistics and data analysis, avvikelse refers to the difference between an observed value and a reference value, such as a model, mean or target. It can be expressed as a signed or absolute quantity and is related to concepts like residuals and deviations from a benchmark. Large avvikelse can indicate model misspecification, measurement error or an outlier.

In quality management and safety contexts, avvikelse is the formal label for a departure from requirements, specifications or procedures. An avvikelse is typically recorded and routed through an avvikelse handling process, including investigation, root cause analysis and the implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA). The aim is to reduce recurrence and improve processes or products.

In healthcare, production, and other regulated industries, avvikelse reporting supports risk management and safety by encouraging learning from errors and non-conformities. The term can also refer to an event that interrupts normal operation or indicates non-compliance with standards, requiring follow-up and documentation.

Etymology and usage notes: avvikelse is common in Swedish and Norwegian, with related forms and closely similar meanings across these languages. It highlights a structured way to address departures from expected performance or quality.