FREE 10+ Operating Procedures Samples & Templates in MS Word | PDF

How do people learn to do things? If you’re an employee, you learn to do the job through training before you get to do the real job. This is how most companies deal with new employees, regardless if they have experience or not. It’s an excellent way to properly induct and introduce an employee to the company and their new job. This orderly transition of new employees is all thanks to an operating procedure. Every organization follows a specific set of operating procedures. How does this operating procedure work, and why is it important? Let’s find out.

FREE 10+ Operating Procedures Samples & Templates in MS Word | PDF

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10. Standard Operating Procedure Template

11. Sample Standard Operating Procedure

What Is an Operating Procedure?

An operating procedure is a set of steps that intends to tell individuals or workers what to do in specific situations. The procedure can be for simple processes or for complex routine operations. Operating procedures serve as important communication tools in a company to ensure that all personnel clearly understand exactly what the company wants them to do. Operating procedures are standardized to establish uniformity in the processes performed throughout a company.

In the US and in the UK, every military unit follows a unique set of procedures called a standard operating procedure or SOP. Setting standard operating procedures ensures work efficiency and yields high-quality output. As mentioned, it helps establish uniformity in personnel performance, which results to compliance with industry regulations. It is also the best way to reduce miscommunication across a company or military unit. Standard operating procedures are useful tools in different fields of work, not just in the military. There are standard operating procedures for different businesses, for clinical research and practice, for regularizing employees, for visa applications, etc.

How to Make an Operating Procedure

Every institution is responsible for making specific standard operating procedures that are relevant and applicable to the nature of their work. While there is no shortcut available in making a standard operating procedure, there are essential tips that you can take advantage of that will make the process easier.

1. Use a Simple SOP Format

Complicated doesn’t always mean the best. when choosing a format for a standard operating procedure, it is best to choose a simple format that both writer and audience can understand. A lot of things can be done using a simple format and the writer can focus more on the content rather than spending too much time on how it should look like.

2. Create a Checklist

The steps required in an operating procedure will vary depending on what the procedure is for. First, come up with a simple checklist or to do list of the different tasks involved in the process. Simple checklists are best suited for small teams that do not really require detailed instructions. Then there is a complex liner checklist, which is just a detailed version of a simple checklist. Here, you can record every detail of the process as you go along the procedure.

3. Create a Process Flow Diagram

Diagrams provide a visual representation of the process. Instead of just steps in words, it is easier to determine the flow of the process by drawing a flow chart or a diagram. Some institutions create diagrams first and then put them into writing. Other institutions have both to ensure that their employees clearly understand the process.

4. Determine Your Purpose

Why are you making a standard operating procedure? By answering this question, you can write a step-by-step instructions on actions taken or how decisions are made. An effective operating procedure starts with a purpose that is incorporated throughout the entire operating procedures.

5. Be Concise and Consistent

Use a consistent writing style that suits your audience. Base your writing style on factors like professional setting, company size, international involvement and the company’s years in business. Whatever writing style you choose, remember to always stay consistent and concise with what you write.

FAQ’s

No one operating procedure is perfect for all types of processes. That is why it is essential to carefully plan the instructions or steps to include in the procedure. The operating procedure samples and templates provided above will help you plan and build an operating procedure that applies to your institution. Check them out now!