As a fellow executive in the manufacturing industry, three of my favorite words are Repeatable, Normalized, and Predictable. There is no better way to achieve these goals than through Standard Operating Procedures.
One of my passions is collaborating with leaders on effective ways to improve business operations. By the end of this article, you’ll have all the elements needed to create exceptional SOPs that will transform your environment the same way it has mine.
SOPs are high-level digital procedures that are strictly version controlled. They are an indispensable resource to your employees, providing them with step-by-step procedures, important safety information, process flowcharts, references, and instructional media. Reliable SOPs are the most effective method for ensuring that all employees follow the same procedures, resulting in accuracy, consistency, productivity and accountability.
Standardized Procedures encourage the distribution of knowledge, reducing the time it takes to onboard new employees. They can help to prevent otherwise informal knowledge from going undocumented or becoming lost, which has become increasingly important amidst record-breaking employee turnover in the 21st century.
Standard Operating Procedures are also critical for maintaining ISO 9001 compliance. It is essential to keep up-to-date SOPs in tandem with evolving regulatory requirements to maintain compliance. Every Company’s SOPs should be reviewed and updated regularly to include recent changes or new requirements, document improved processes, and to incorporate best practices.
