Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Templates

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) act as documentation and guidelines on how to properly perform a particular task or process. SOPs can be used across industries and businesses large and small and serve as procedural documentation. In essence, a blueprint for repetitive jobs. They are especially useful when there is a task that needs to be completed in the same way repeatedly. For this reason, it is most often seen in the context of the production environment. SOPs drive compliance with industry-specific regulations and can also be used as a quality driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do businesses need Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)?

SOPs facilitate consistency and reliability within any given process. The step-by-step instructions help employees take a structured approach to each task, especially important where complex or sequential steps are concerned. SOP can also be used as base documentation for onboarding and refresher training for company procedures. They are also essential documentation for ISO certification.

How to create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)?

Requirements for SOPs will change from industry to industry. Similarly, inclusions will also change as business needs change. As such, SOPs should be flexible to changes within an organization. Start by creating a list of your organization’s most repetitive tasks, in need of documentation. Consult with the different stakeholders involved in the task workflow and create an outline of the process. Thoroughly understand how each employee feeds into the process. Consider current pain points and how they can be eased. Assign tasks and responsibilities, and depending on the complexity of the process, where one team hands off to another. Determine the structure and formatting of your SOP. This could take the form of a Word Document, PDFs or a digitized checklist. Consider how the SOP will be used before committing to a format. Validate the SOP to ensure it is best practice and have the procedures reviewed and signed off by those impacted by this workflow.Don’t forget to create a revision schedule to keep SOPs up to date with company practices.

Who uses Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)?

Many government and industry bodies mandate standardized operating procedures and relevant documentation. SOP templates are commonly found in manufacturing, health and safety, food and pharmacology, transport and logistics as well as IT and HR. Workers on the ground benefit from SOPs as they function as guidance to help them perform their jobs accurately, effectively and consistently. Managers benefit from the visibility into performance metrics and the corrective actions that can emerge from auditing against SOPs.