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Quality glossary
SOP (Standard Operating Procedure)
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) translate best practices into repeatable instructions. They help teams maintain compliance, reduce variation, and onboard new members quickly.
Elements of an effective SOP
High-quality SOPs outline responsibilities, step-by-step actions, required tools, safety considerations, and references to supporting documents.
SOPs and continuous improvement
When CARs lead to process updates, revise the relevant Corrective Action Reports so teams follow the new standard.
Updated SOPs support reliable documentation, including Certificates of Conformity, that buyers and regulators expect.
Maintaining SOPs in KaizenQ
KaizenQ stores SOP references alongside inspection templates. Teams can link specific steps to checkpoints, ensuring inspectors always have the latest instructions at hand.
Key takeaways
- SOPs standardise work to ensure consistent quality.
- They must evolve when corrective actions introduce new expectations.
- Embedding SOPs within KaizenQ keeps guidance close to the work.