Leading the creation of standard operating procedures (SOP)

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This standard covers the competences required to lead the creation of standard operating procedures (SOP) for work activities.

This will involve leading the documenting of the information gathered from the method used when performing the operation/process. You will lead the preparations required from start to finish, advise on the quality and safety standards to be maintained, and agree on the drawings, tooling, fixtures, gauges, and other items that are used during the operation or process.  You will need to agree the 'key points' in the document, and advise on the use of drawings, photographs and/or sketches, as appropriate.

You will be required to ensure that those involved in performing the operation or process have the opportunity to contribute, and agree the method identified.

You will also be required to lead the production of standard operating procedures for a range of activities, such as cleaning of equipment, maintenance of equipment, health and safety practices and procedures, process procedures, manufacturing operations and quality improvements.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the activities undertaken, and to report any problems that you cannot solve, or that are outside your responsibility, to the relevant authority.  You will be expected to take full responsibility for your own actions within the activity, and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.

Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to the techniques and procedures used.  You will need to understand the principles and procedures for creating standard operating procedures, and their application, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required criteria.

Applying and advising on safe working practices will be a key issue throughout.

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1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
2. lead the gathering of information of the current operation or process to identify the optimum and safest method
3. agree what tools, equipment, fixtures, documentation and standards are required
4. ensure that all team members performing the operation or process have the opportunity to contribute, and agree the SOP
5. lead the production of standard operating procedures in an agreed format and monitor their accuracy against the operation or process requirements
6. communicate the information in the standard operating procedures to those who use it
7. lead the revision of standard operating procedures, as appropriate, to ensure their effectiveness in the workplace
8. confirm that the SOP defined will meet quality, productivity, health, safety and environmental requirements

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1. how to work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
2. how to plan the resources and time needed to carry out the agreed activity
3. the various formats used in creating SOP
4. where to find the SOP document format to be used in your business
5. the information that will be required to create a SOP
6. how SOP are structured, and the importance of their use
7. methods of communicating/facilitating to ensure that all the required information for the SOP is captured
8. the operation/process to be captured in the SOP
9. why SOP are the basis for quality and continuous improvement
10. the eight wastes and how to eliminate them
11. how to simplify work done, eliminating waste and potential for human error
12. Takt time, and the relationship with achieving flow in a process
13. the extent of your own authority, and to whom you should report in the event of problems that you cannot resolve

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1.    Lead the activities within your area of responsibility to include all of the following:

1. set out an communicate the purpose of the improvement activities
2. involve the team in planning how the improvement activity will be achieved
3. ensure each team member has individual objectives and understands how these objectives contribute to the overall improvement objective
4. provide advice and support the team to achieve both team and individual improvement objectives
5. motivate the team to present their own improvement ideas
6. encourage the team and/or individuals to take the lead where appropriate
7. agree the implementation of the improvement ideas
8. negotiate any physical and/or financial resources required to implement the improvement activity (where appropriate)
9. monitor the progress of improvement activities
10. deal with any organisational problems identified during the improvement activity

 

2.    Lead the production of a standard operating procedure for two of the following:

1. cleaning of equipment
2. maintenance of equipment
3. health, safety and environmental practices and procedures
4. process procedures
5. manufacturing operations
6. quality improvements
7. improvements to customer satisfaction

 

3.    Lead the production of standard operating procedures that minimise all of the following:

1. time
2. effort
3. waste
   

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3

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2028

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Current

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Original

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Enginuity

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SEMBIT423

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Associate Professionals and Technical Occupations, Business and Finance Associate Professionals, Business Management, Business, Administration and Law.

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2127

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Engineering; business; improvement; techniques; leading; creation; standard operating procedures; SOP; quality; safety; standards; equipment; minimise waste; procedures; photographs; drawings

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