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Standard Operating Procedure: What Is It?

A Standard Operating Procedure is a documented process that ensures work is done the same way each and every time.  It can be a simple checklist to mark off as you perform a job, or a list of steps in a process with pictures to assist your team-mates understand what they are doing.

Most Lean Transformations will start with and finish with a Standard Operating Procedure.  We start with them because we need to know how a process is currently working (or not working) before we can improve it.  We finish with them because we need to ensure we have a new standard way of operating that anyone can follow once waste is removed and value is increased.

Another benefit of having a current SOP is that it assists greatly in training and on-boarding new staff, and helps to reduce existing “silos” of knowledge.

By David McLachlan

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