Standard Operating Procedure: Why is it important for a business?

If your company suffers from such operational bottlenecks as poor communication among employees, more rework, constant failures of tasks, and delivery delays.

You know the time to introduce a standard operating procedure, also known by the word “SOP”.
This is not only an impact on the productivity of the employees and managers but also on the quality of products and services that they offer for achieving greater customer satisfaction. Good, right?

However, it takes time and effort to develop this procedure in your business. After all, each area needs to have its own . Continue reading and see why this document is so essential for business success, as well as examples and its main types.

What is the standard operation procedure and to what it is used?

The standard operating procedure is that document which contains each and every detail related to the operational processes and workflows of a sector. It helps in ensuring standard operations and conducts so that the quality product or service can be ensured with good performance of the team.

In other words, its main objective is to promote high quality processes and results , of course.

To this end, regardless of the purpose, the POP includes, for example:

• order of processes and operations;
• duration of each task and those responsible for them;
• materials used;
• operational details such as machine running time and site temperature;
• mandatory safety standards ;
• what should be done in case of problems and maintenance requests.

Ideally, this document should be prepared for each area of ​​the company and all processes, as it serves as a guide, continually guiding the work of employees.

Why invest in a POP?

Standard operating procedures benefit various types and segments of businesses. In fact, their greatest advantages are increased productivity , reduced or eliminated waste, more efficient management, greater end customer satisfaction, quality of products/services offered and achievement of more significant results.

The entire organization focuses on continuous improvement of processes, such as quality control, occupational safety, preventive and predictive maintenance, cleaning operations, inventory management, logistics and production, among others.

Other benefits of standard operating procedure

• Improved communication between employees and teams : when everyone is aligned on what needs to be done, when and how, work becomes fluid and efficient.
• Greater team autonomy : tasks are carried out in accordance with the document, without the need for constant guidance and supervision.
• Predictability of more assertive results: when processes are well-aligned, it is possible to measure results regularly and have a complete view of the performance of the sector and the business.
• Reduction in work accidents : with all procedures organized and standardized, there is a reduction in errors and possible work accidents.
• Greatest competitive advantage in the market : the business adds another competitive edge to its portfolio and demonstrates efficient management and a successful quality control policy.

Main types of standard operating procedure

Because it can be adapted to different sectors, POPs come in different types, with different objectives. Some examples of POPs are: quality, occupational safety, storage, production, health surveillance and logistics.

See more details about them below!

Quality POP

• It is aimed at production quality control .
• Helps reduce or eliminate rework, waste, operational failures and defective items.
• This includes, for example, procedures and their respective parameters, such as temperature, tasks performed and duration of use.

Occupational safety SOP

• The occupational safety POP focuses on processes that guarantee the health and well-being of employees.
• The document brings together standard procedures and details on the use of PPE and EPC, in addition to recommending safety measures in emergency situations.
• Helps reduce work accidents and prevent occupational diseases.
• This standard operating procedure can be used in process audits to demonstrate compliance with safety standards.

Storage POP

• This SOP document covers procedures involved in product storage.
• Organizes information about correct storage methods, safety measures, storage periods, risk level, etc.

Production POP

• The production SOP encompasses all processes involved in the production of products, from the simplest to the most complex operations.
• The objective is to avoid errors and waste, increase productivity and final quality and follow marketing requirements.
• You can also add the maintenance POP, taking inventory of the company’s assets, service schedule, among others.

Health surveillance SOP

• The standard operating procedure is required by health surveillance for food establishments and services.
• Also called cleaning SOP, it includes all processes with rules and criteria to be followed according to each environment.
• A health surveillance SOP may include: materials used in each location, hygiene methods, hand hygiene protocols, use of PPE, etc.

Logistics POP

• Aimed at standardizing all operational stages of a company or carrier ‘s logistics .
• The logistics SOP details the tasks and their respective work methods, deadlines and those responsible for all procedures, such as receiving goods, separating orders, loading cargo, tracking cargo , inventory of stock, etc.

FAQ

What is Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)?

The SOP document, an acronym for standard operating procedure, contains all the details and orders of the processes carried out in a specific sector of the company. It can be prepared for different corporate areas, aiming to improve the operational flow and reduce wasted time and money.

What is the purpose of POP?

The SOP serves to standardize operational procedures and ensure productivity, the final quality of the product/service, customer satisfaction and the reduction of unnecessary costs in a business. In addition, it helps to improve the management of the sector and decision-making by enabling the identification of improvements.

How important is POP?

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are important because they help ensure better business results and increase competitive advantage in the market. By standing out for their efficient quality control, the company attracts new customers and retains existing ones, who are already satisfied with the products or services delivered.

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