Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): How to Write Them to Be Effective Tools

This is the third of three articles on standard operating procedures or SOPs. It addresses 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. The second article addressed what SOPs an organization needs to think about and how to determine what SOPs to put in place. 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.