Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a written set of step-by-step instructions that describes how to perform a specific task the same way every time, regardless of who does it. SOPs remove guesswork from repeatable work, keep quality consistent, make training faster and give auditors evidence that work follows an agreed standard.
Instead of relying on one experienced person’s memory, the steps are written down: what to do, in what order, and what “done correctly” looks like. That’s what makes an SOP different from a general policy – a policy says what must happen, an SOP says exactly how. For a step-by-step method, see how to create an SOP.
Good SOPs pay off most during onboarding and audits: a new hire can follow one without needing to shadow a colleague first, and an auditor checking compliance has something concrete to check the work against.
See SOP meaning, key components, examples, and how to write one.