Closing SCAR/CAPA loops: Collaboration tools that foster supply chain reliability

True supply chain reliability goes beyond quick fixes. It requires successfully closing the loop on every SCAR/CAPA process: a demanding task that becomes an arduous challenge when data is fragmented across multiple spreadsheets and outdated processes, resulting in short-lived, ineffective corrective actions. 

To make genuine corrective and preventive action possible, you need the correct digital tools to set your team up for quality success. In this article, we take a deep dive into the importance of harnessing technology to reduce bottlenecks and guarantee effectiveness verification. 

Reasons your supply chain is not reliable now 

Used to identify, address and prevent quality problems, the Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) methodology is the standard procedure to expose systemic vulnerabilities that root from supplier quality problems such as inconsistent specs, late deliveries, or documentation gaps. 

The process begins with the formal creation of an incident, utilizing the 5W2H method to ensure a comprehensive initial assessment. Following this first approach, SQEs issue a Supplier Corrective Action Request (SCAR) to pinpoint the root cause and implement corrective actions.

However, achieving a long-term resolution and actually closing the loop becomes challenging when SQEs face: 

• Incomplete and fragmented documentation 

• Unrealistic deadlines that result in short time-frames to investigate quality issues

• Outdated and/or ineffective procedures 

• Internal and external communication barriers 

These factors fail to create durable and effective solutions to quality problems, in which case closing the loop does not meet the critical effectiveness verification, defined by ISO as the way we “ensure the problem has been resolved and won’t happen again”.

3 strategies to secure CAPA reliability 

In order to correctly close the loop in the CAPA process, your team must implement strategies that provide the necessary tools to not only navigate through quality problems, but also find lasting innovative solutions that reduce reworks, costs, and guarantee supply chain reliability.  

Strategy 1: End documentation overload 

Finding critical data becomes an uphill task when you have countless spreadsheets and several uncorrelated data repositories, making it almost impossible to link the root cause of a problem with its designated corrective action. In order to stop this problem, you need to solve the lack of traceability by unifying all documentation and databases in one place. 

Strategy 2: Implement real time visibility 

One of the key aspects to quality management is timing. Early issue prevention can lessen damages to your supply chain as well as reduce poor quality costs, a difficult task when your team just works to solve quick mistakes and does not have the required visibility to detect patterns and improve your supply chain. 

Strategy 3: Streamline communication 

Human errors are more common when your team and suppliers are not on the same page. To stop this from happening, you need the correct communication tools that allow both parties to address issues quicker, assuring accountability and transparency. 

Key benefits of Introducing SCAR/CAPA collaboration tools 

Rather than just adapting new strategies into your business processes, true supply chain reliability comes from using the digital tools your team needs. This benefits your process by: 

• Enhancing traceability and compliance: With a unified system that promotes end-to-end traceability, digital tools maintain records for compliance and continuous improvement, in addition to providing standardized templates that aid in creating efficient CAPA reports. 
• Increasing efficient and timely resolutions: Having a dedicated software lets your team automate reminders and status updates in order to act faster in critical situations, therefore reducing delayed responses and helping SQEs focus on what truly matters. 
• Making supplier relationships stronger: Collaboration tools foster transparency, accountability and communication, key factors for cross-team alignment and establishing responsibilities between parties. 
• Contributing to better decision-making: By collecting all of your quality data, software enables SQEs to identify patterns and trends in order to make data-driven decisions that guarantee effectiveness verification. 

Close SCAR/CAPA loops with Kiuey’s SCAR/CAPA Manager 

Stop spending hours with countless paperwork and start focusing on what truly matters with Kieuy’s SCAR/CAPA Manager, a platform that unifies your documentation, automates alerts and integrates suppliers for true collaboration. 

Don’t wait for your next non-conformity, schedule a free demo today and discover a better way to guarantee effectiveness verification before it’s too late.