Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): How Companies Can Determine Which Documents They Must Put in Place

Abstract

This is the second of three articles on standard operating procedures or SOPs. It addresses what SOPs an organization needs to think about and how to determine what SOPs to put in place. The last article will describe how to write SOPs in clear, concise language so that processes and activities occur as they are supposed to. The first article addressed the need for SOPs and their value to the business unit. SOPs are the first line of defense in any inspection, whether it be by a regulatory body a partner or potential partner, a client, or a firm conducting due diligence for a possible purchase. It does not matter what a company calls them; any document that is a“how to”falls into the category of procedures. SOPs in fact define expected practices in all businesses where quality standards exist.