Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are necessary for every industry. The written procedures keep a company on track. The importance of having them is to guarantee the organization remains compliant with all federally mandated regulations, legislation, and ever-changing laws. But too often many businesses will continue to struggle with getting the correct and appropriate SOP created, distributed and understood by their employees.
What is an SOP?
Standard Operating Procedures are clearly defined instructions. Their purpose is to, execute consistency of the performance, of a specific function. A detailed written and enacted SOP are used to fulfill compliance requirements, mitigate safety and health risk, and directly work consistently and efficiently across an entire organization. This guide provides you with ten easy steps to review when implementing your organization’s SOP.
Step 1 – SOP purpose is clearly understood and explained
Are you wondering why an SOP is required? In your organization, you want problems solved before they arise. So, what issues need addressing and what does it need to accomplish. Here are some examples:
Step 2 – Consider your audience diversity
Before your Standard Operating Procedure gets written, you’ll want to look at your intended audience. Does this audience have prior knowledge of the subject matter? Will they have the necessary language skills to understand? Also, what is the size and shape of your audience? Remember, some parts of the SOP will make sense to one group, but not another.
Step 3 – Format and layout must be useful
There are no right or wrong ways when designing or presenting your SOP, but here are some easy reminders to consider:
Step 4 – Suitable authors must be used
To write an SOP; you need to have the necessary knowledge. While you may have been assigned to create, and even own this SOP, always bear in mind, you need to have the required expertise to write it. Guarantee that experts in the relevant areas get brought into the authorizing process. Using SharePoint tools to expedite that collaboration is crucial to success during this phase.
Step 5 – Supply appropriate content and structure
There will always be specific needs for unique situations. But, these examples below are necessary details that must get included in your SOP:
Step 6 – Use a writing style the reader can easily read and understand
Step 7 – Mandatory SOP testing
Your personnel must get SOP tested, especially by the people who will use it, and guarantee comments are taken on board and updated within the SOP as needed and required.
Step 8 – Make it known to your entire staff where to find the SOP
Organizations that have implemented a Standard Operating Procedure, typically have a known location where to find the material. But do not assume everyone in your organization knows where to look. It might be at a SharePoint site either department or organization level, but make sure everyone knows where to look.
Step 9 – Check that the SOP was distributed and read
While a repository is required, placing your SOP on SharePoint to be read does not go far enough. Immediately after your SOP gets updated or put in place, an email should be crafted and sent to all the relevant user groups to read the document. Then a response back from all recipients they have read and understood the material. You could use a SharePoint based tool to manage this whole process for you.
Step 10 – Guarantee staff fully understands
After each staff member has read the SOP, next comes sitting with them to make sure they clearly understand and expected of them. There is a need to guarantee your team has a clear understanding of what is meant by the Standard Operating Procedure. Testing your staff after reading the material, gives you an idea of what they do or do not comprehend, and how you can address any concerns.
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