What is a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)?

SOPs are developed to ensure that routine tasks are performed consistently, accurately, safely, and efficiently across an organization. They can be used to train new or existing staff members on different processes and procedures. SOPs also serve as documentation to demonstrate compliance with various quality standards and regulations such as ISO.

*Source: https://blog.infraspeak.com/whats-is-sop/

A standard operating procedure should contain the following elements:

• Name of the procedure
• Objective of the work being performed
• Instructions on how to perform the task.
• Instructions are typically provided in the form of checklists, hierarchical steps, or flowcharts
• Scope of the procedure
• Responsibilities of those performing the tasks
• Health and safety measures
• Reference documents

*Source: https://blog.infraspeak.com/whats-is-sop/

SOPs ensure that products are produced without errors. They also help streamline processes and keep everyone on the same page so that products are released on schedule and within budget. More importantly, SOPs ensure that all team members adhere to applicable regulatory requirements throughout the new product development and introduction (NPDI) process.