Preventive and risk-based approach to management  Managing risks and establishing preventive measures aims at strengthening the effective  and efficient functioning of the IQMS by eliminating or controlling threats and by taking  opportunities for improvement.  The adoption of a preventive and risk-based approach shall ensure that risks and potential  deviations, shortcomings or failures, and their causes, are identified and acted upon at an  early stage to prevent their actual occurrence.  The pro-active approach shall also enhance desirable effects and opportunities that present  an advantage for the Agency and its stakeholders.  Prev entive action is taken with the aim to foster the Agency’s ability to achieve the  objectives and to deliver services with the planned quality, in the agreed timeframe and  under minimisation of undesired environmental impacts.  This procedure applies to the entire Agency. The procedure starts with the identification of  a potential issue and ends with the effective implementation of actions that shall prevent  the occurrence of that issue.  The focus of proaction is to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities and also to identify  opportunities for improving effectiveness and efficiency of processes and the overall system  (PRO-0080).  Potential nonconformities are issues that can adversely affect the intended functioning of  the IQMS and the achievement of its objectives, if not acted upon. Preventive action addresses weaknesses in the IQMS that could cause a nonconforming  situation and are mainly targeted at the causes of:  TEM-0129.01  Uncontrolled copy once printed. Ensure that the right version is in use.  Page  2  of  6 • potential deviations from applicable legislation, compliance obligations, rules or plans,  established procedures, environmental requirements or customer requirements  • potential technical problems and failures in providing the services and outputs with the  intended quality, in the agreed timeframe and under minimisation of undesired  environmental impacts  • shortcomings at the design or implementation of system elements or individual  processes.  3.1. Proactivity and preventive action concept  3. Description  2. Scope  1. Purpose  Document code:  PRO-0079.05  Security level:  Internal  Effective date:  30/05/2016 