A Standard Operating Procedure, or SOP, is a set of written instructions that document a routine or repetitive activity followed by an organisation. We’re very familiar with SOPs and their importance here at Clarity and in this latest post, we’re going to explain a little more about how they’re essential to your Lean programme and how SOPs can be made even more effective when combined with engaging visual management…
Standard Operating Procedures are more often than not used to define business processes. However, they can be used for virtually anything requiring instructions needing to be exactly followed. Creating and implementing SOPs supports a strong, positive quality system by detailing how to perform a job or function correctly in order to ensure consistency in the quality and integrity of a product or service.
SOPs may be written in the form of instructions, worksheets or guidelines and it’s considered best practice to ensure that they are as formalised as possible.
The development and use of SOPs minimises variation and promotes quality through consistent implementation of a process or procedure within the organisation, even if there are temporary or permanent personnel changes. SOPs minimise variations and promote a consistent, high-quality product or service. They reduce the chance of miscommunication and safety concerns. SOPs can be used as “look-back” documents when reconstructing past activities when no other references are available – all this makes Standard Operating Procedure’s an absolutely essential tool within any organisation.
Finally, SOPs are frequently used as checklists by inspectors when auditing procedures.
The primary benefit of an SOP is to document the important steps within an organisation that need to be followed exactly. That said, there are some secondary benefits, outside of this primary goal, that SOPs can deliver for an organisation; these include:
As you can see, Standard Operating Procedures add much greater benefits for an organisation than being a mere document to tick a box. The latter two benefits are especially important because they’re directly linked with your Lean and continuous improvement programmes. SOPs are all about taking a process and documenting the essential steps into a concise, easy-to-follow format, you don’t document wasteful steps in an SOP!
Writing Your Standard Operating ProcedureYour Standard Operating Procedure should be written in a concise, step-by-step, easy-to-read format and well-written SOPs enhance consistency within an organisation and reduce human error.
Follow our guide of “must haves” for your next SOP document:
SOPs need to remain current to be useful.
Here at Clarity Visual Management, it will come as no surprise that we are huge advocates of the effectiveness of visual controls when communicating essential information to employees within a workplace. Using visual management to communicate Standard Operating Procedures can be done with a variety of specialist tools, such as our SOP Display systems.
SOP Displays ensure a consistent message throughout your workplace through a standardised system of displaying standardised procedures. These specialist tools include SOP Stands, SOP Wall Units and SOP Desk Systems – what’s more, you can take advantage of our bespoke visual management boards and include your Standard Operating Procedures right on your own boards.
Using visual management in this way is new for a lot of businesses who are used to using it to communicate numerical and graphical displays, such as tracking KPIs, monitoring production or showing the current state of work. That said, visual management works so well for communicating SOPs because it’s designed to instantly engage whoever is present in the workplace, whether they’re familiar with the environment, or not!
As we know, SOPs are essential in ensuring that a process is followed exactly to guarantee the work is done in the right way – because they are so essential it’s just as important to know that team members in the workplace know where SOPs are and that they can be easily accessed when needed.
Here at Clarity Visual Management, we consult with clients both far and wide about how they can use visual management to achieve their goals, exceed their targets and make financial savings which would otherwise be lost to waste. We work with our clients to create a bespoke strategy that ensures visual management is set up for success before providing specific, high-quality Lean products to sustain the visual management programme and make Lean work in the organisation long-term.
You can read more about the work we’ve undertaken with our clients by browsing through our Visual Management Case Studies.
Download our ‘Introduction to Clarity Visual Management’ if you’re unfamiliar with Clarity and want to learn a little more about our products and services.
Get in touch and speak with a Visual Management Specialist to answer any questions you may have on our products, consultancy or business.
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