{"id":93,"date":"2026-06-03T10:48:42","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T09:48:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/?page_id=93"},"modified":"2026-07-20T15:27:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T14:27:23","slug":"sop-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/sop-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to SOPs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"93\" class=\"elementor elementor-93\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-175df38 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"175df38\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a215fd2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a215fd2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5571ff2 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5571ff2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-411f4d2 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"411f4d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A practical guide to understanding SOPs, how to implement them, and how to make them stick &#8211; with advice from Tom Hughes, CEO of GembaDocs.<\/p><p><em>Written by Tom Hughes, CEO of GembaDocs and lean champion.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-febc9c8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"febc9c8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1834cb6 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1834cb6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7cebfda e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7cebfda\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0fca9ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0fca9ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Guide Introduction <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5bd2c2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5bd2c2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Most business leaders understand the idea of having processes documented &#8211; reducing reliance on tribal knowledge, protecting continuity when people leave, and building something that survives a staffing crunch. But those benefits are a fraction of what well-implemented SOPs actually deliver.<\/p><p>The fact that they are so consistently underestimated is one of the main reasons most businesses never build the living, breathing SOP culture they intended. They don&#8217;t fully understand the upside, so they don&#8217;t allocate the time and resources to make it happen. And until recently, creating and maintaining SOPs was so cumbersome that for most teams, the effort never felt worth it.<\/p><p>This guide works through the questions that matter most.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abf5d63 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"abf5d63\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ef8e0e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"6ef8e0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;],&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-circle&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;,&quot;rendered_tag&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-circle\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 512 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;},&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__6ef8e0e\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__6ef8e0e\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__6ef8e0e\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a82fb5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6a82fb5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e027ece elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e027ece\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is a Standard Operating Procedure?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-712dd33 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"712dd33\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e4ad89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1e4ad89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"929\" height=\"657\" src=\"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Work-Instruction-Example-GembaDoc-SOP-Standard.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-734\" alt=\"Work Instruction Example - GembaDoc SOP Standard\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Work-Instruction-Example-GembaDoc-SOP-Standard.png 929w, https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Work-Instruction-Example-GembaDoc-SOP-Standard-300x212.png 300w, https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Work-Instruction-Example-GembaDoc-SOP-Standard-768x543.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-000ac9c elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"000ac9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Most business leaders understand the idea of having processes documented &#8211; reducing reliance on tribal knowledge, protecting continuity when people leave, and building something that survives a staffing crunch. But those benefits are a fraction of what well-implemented SOPs actually deliver.<\/p><p>The fact that they are so consistently underestimated is one of the main reasons most businesses never build the living, breathing SOP culture they intended. They don&#8217;t fully understand the upside, so they don&#8217;t allocate the time and resources to make it happen. And until recently, creating and maintaining SOPs was so cumbersome that for most teams, the effort never felt worth it.<\/p><p>This guide works through the questions that matter most.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-430f929 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"430f929\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5057ad elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f5057ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why are SOPs important?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50ba5d3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"50ba5d3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e7f899 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e7f899\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>My favourite Lean quotation of all time comes from Taiichi Ohno, the &#8216;Father of Lean&#8217;:<\/p><p><em>&#8220;Without standards, there can be no improvement.&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0 &#8211; Taiichi Ohno<\/p><p>Why would Taiichi make such a bold proclamation?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f31fd84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f31fd84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"956\" height=\"539\" src=\"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/kaizen-Foundation2x.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5365\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/kaizen-Foundation2x.png 956w, https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/kaizen-Foundation2x-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/kaizen-Foundation2x-768x433.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 956px) 100vw, 956px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08da2ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"08da2ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">It is because of that slippery slope between the bottom of the slope shown here, which represents where most companies are: no standards (SOPs), no documented processes at all &#8211; or just as bad, what I call &#8216;wallpaper&#8217; standards that nobody is using or following. Management that are divorced from the Gemba get to think that they have SOPs in place, when clearly to any objective view that they do not.<\/span><\/p><p>The next diagram makes it even more clear that Standards are literally the foundation of Lean.<\/p><p>This schematic is often used to demonstrate the Toyota Production System, represented as a &#8216;House Of Lean&#8217; with Customer Satisfaction and Business Success as the apex of the roof, supported by the pillars of Just In Time, Respect for People (Culture) and Jidoka techniques. The foundation of the temple is &#8216;Stability and Standardization&#8217; &#8211; with Standard Operating Procedures as one of those key principles.<\/p><p><em><strong>It is that important.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2435247 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2435247\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e2a704 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e2a704\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Adding an improvement to chaos is just adding another variation that will likely stay in place for a day or two, followed by just some of the people carrying out the process, and then disappear.<\/p><p>Lean Guru Masaaki Imai, Founder of the Kaizen Institute, describes this better than I ever could. How often have you or your team made a great change to a process, only to come back a few days later to find that nobody is following it? That is very frustrating.<\/p><p>That is why having a clear process for how Standard Operating Procedures are documented is key &#8211; which is exactly what we examine in the sections below.<\/p><p>We created GembaDocs to reduce the burden of this Develop-Document-Improve process, making it possible to create or edit Standard Operating Procedures within minutes, not hours or days. It really is a gamechanger &#8211; making it possible to create and maintain those backstops that prevent the solid ball of your process rolling down the Quality, Cost and Customer Experience hill.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-563de28 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"563de28\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c76880e elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial postit-tilt-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-testimonial\" data-id=\"c76880e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-content\">It is impossible to improve any process until it is standardized. If the process is shifting from here to there, then any improvement will just be one more variation that is occasionally used and mostly ignored. One must standardize, and thus stabilize the process, before continuous improvement can be made.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-meta-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial-name\">Masaaki Imai<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-94a918c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"94a918c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd44ef8 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cd44ef8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5 Benefits of Well-Implemented SOPs<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c5cebe e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2c5cebe\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77cc63a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"77cc63a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When we talk about benefits here, we are talking about when SOPs are done right. That can only be achieved when the concept is well understood by all the stakeholders in the organization and the appropriate tools and resources are allocated to the SOP effort.<\/p><ol><li>A massive source of improvement. The initial &#8216;best of&#8217; approach becomes the baseline for how process X is done. Making process improvements on a solid foundation means they are much more likely to stick than adding another variation to an already unstable process.<\/li><li>Process improvements stick. Building on a solid foundation means improvements are far more likely to be sustained. Adding a change to an unstable process just creates another variation.<\/li><li>Reduce stress for team members. There is a clear way of executing all tasks for everyone. Minimize planning hassles caused by absentees or people leaving the business. Well-implemented SOPs also ensure business continuity.<\/li><li>Reduce people churn. SOPs provide a consistent basis for training. New starters get adequate support to integrate into the organization with the SOPs as their reference.<\/li><li>Process stability. When team members own their already-improved process and that SOP is consistently followed by everyone, it leads to less variation in the process outcome &#8211; measurable in terms of Quality, Cost or Customer Experience. Overall less waste.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59a222e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"59a222e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1abcab elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e1abcab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Which Processes Should Have an SOP?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc5c78e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dc5c78e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bcbae98 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bcbae98\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We have a saying in Lean circles coming from Paul Akers: &#8216;everything is a process.&#8217; I would add to that by saying that everything is a process, and if it is a process, it can be documented and it can also be improved.<\/p><p><em>So any process can be documented. Here are the two key categories:<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-650c4a2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"650c4a2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80c9c14 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"80c9c14\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7de738f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7de738f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>A core value-adding process for the organization<\/strong><\/p><p>The common example is manufacturing processes &#8211; and it is true that step-by-step SOPs originate from that sector. But that is not the end of the story. Any business-critical process, especially those that are key to adding value for a customer, should be documented. An organization does not need to have a physical product for this to apply.\u00a0<\/p><p>Think of a dentist&#8217;s office or a hospital setting, for example. There is a process from receiving and registering a patient through to a myriad of different forms of assessment and treatment.<\/p><p>These kinds of processes can be both physical (a manufacturing or distribution process) or virtual and computer-based. Both benefit from having an SOP developed to improve Quality, Cost and Consistency of Customer Experience.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c12d35 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6c12d35\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63f7747 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"63f7747\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Simple how-to processes &#8211; turn on a machine, change a printer cartridge<\/strong><\/p><p>&#8216;Put the answer where the question is.&#8217; How many times have we encountered these kinds of interruptions to the flow of our day? How do I change the paper in the printer? How do I access the wifi? How do I book in this client? And on and on. Documenting these information deficits on processes that can be significant productivity killers &#8211; and then making that answer available at point of use &#8211; is a straightforward improvement that pays back immediately.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a140c88 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a140c88\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c87199 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6c87199\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to Write SOPs that Your Team Will Actually Follow<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fea1429 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fea1429\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-177461d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"177461d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We were very fortunate to have a great deal of interaction with Mark Warren on the subject of SOPs.<\/p><p>Mark actually wrote the manual for how Toyota delivered Standard Work training in North America, called Training Within Industry.<\/p><p>He was generous in helping us understand the principles better. Here is one of the posters we developed from his material &#8211; because this is an area that people get wrong so often.<\/p><p>The four rules for writing a job breakdown<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-398c6ae elementor-align-start elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"398c6ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_4832)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M15.48 3H7.52C4.07 3 2 5.06 2 8.52V16.47C2 19.94 4.07 22 7.52 22H15.47C18.93 22 20.99 19.94 20.99 16.48V8.52C21 5.06 18.93 3 15.48 3Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M21.02 2.98028C19.23 1.18028 17.48 1.14028 15.64 2.98028L14.51 4.10028C14.41 4.20028 14.38 4.34028 14.42 4.47028C15.12 6.92028 17.08 8.88028 19.53 9.58028C19.56 9.59028 19.61 9.59028 19.64 9.59028C19.74 9.59028 19.84 9.55028 19.91 9.48028L21.02 8.36028C21.93 7.45028 22.38 6.58028 22.38 5.69028C22.38 4.79028 21.93 3.90028 21.02 2.98028Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M17.8601 10.4198C17.5901 10.2898 17.3301 10.1598 17.0901 10.0098C16.8901 9.88984 16.6901 9.75984 16.5001 9.61984C16.3401 9.51984 16.1601 9.36984 15.9801 9.21984C15.9601 9.20984 15.9001 9.15984 15.8201 9.07984C15.5101 8.82984 15.1801 8.48984 14.8701 8.11984C14.8501 8.09984 14.7901 8.03984 14.7401 7.94984C14.6401 7.83984 14.4901 7.64984 14.3601 7.43984C14.2501 7.29984 14.1201 7.09984 14.0001 6.88984C13.8501 6.63984 13.7201 6.38984 13.6001 6.12984C13.4701 5.84984 13.3701 5.58984 13.2801 5.33984L7.9001 10.7198C7.5501 11.0698 7.2101 11.7298 7.1401 12.2198L6.7101 15.1998C6.6201 15.8298 6.7901 16.4198 7.1801 16.8098C7.5101 17.1398 7.9601 17.3098 8.4601 17.3098C8.5701 17.3098 8.6801 17.2998 8.7901 17.2898L11.7601 16.8698C12.2501 16.7998 12.9101 16.4698 13.2601 16.1098L18.6401 10.7298C18.3901 10.6498 18.1401 10.5398 17.8601 10.4198Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_4832\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Rule 1: Write the job breakdown where the work is done, not at your desk<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_3111_32669)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M17.53 7.77C17.46 7.76 17.39 7.76 17.32 7.77C15.77 7.72 14.54 6.45 14.54 4.89C14.54 3.3 15.83 2 17.43 2C19.02 2 20.32 3.29 20.32 4.89C20.31 6.45 19.08 7.72 17.53 7.77Z\"><\/path><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M20.79 14.7004C19.67 15.4504 18.1 15.7304 16.65 15.5404C17.03 14.7204 17.23 13.8104 17.24 12.8504C17.24 11.8504 17.02 10.9004 16.6 10.0704C18.08 9.8704 19.65 10.1504 20.78 10.9004C22.36 11.9404 22.36 13.6504 20.79 14.7004Z\"><\/path><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M6.44002 7.77C6.51002 7.76 6.58002 7.76 6.65002 7.77C8.20002 7.72 9.43002 6.45 9.43002 4.89C9.43002 3.3 8.14002 2 6.54002 2C4.95002 2 3.65002 3.29 3.65002 4.89C3.66002 6.45 4.89002 7.72 6.44002 7.77Z\"><\/path><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M6.54999 12.8496C6.54999 13.8196 6.75999 14.7396 7.13999 15.5696C5.72999 15.7196 4.26 15.4196 3.18 14.7096C1.6 13.6596 1.6 11.9496 3.18 10.8996C4.25 10.1796 5.75999 9.88962 7.18 10.0496C6.77 10.8896 6.54999 11.8396 6.54999 12.8496Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12.12 15.87C12.04 15.86 11.95 15.86 11.86 15.87C10.02 15.81 8.54999 14.3 8.54999 12.44C8.54999 10.54 10.08 9 11.99 9C13.89 9 15.43 10.54 15.43 12.44C15.43 14.3 13.97 15.81 12.12 15.87Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.86999 17.9396C7.35999 18.9496 7.35999 20.6096 8.86999 21.6096C10.59 22.7596 13.41 22.7596 15.13 21.6096C16.64 20.5996 16.64 18.9396 15.13 17.9396C13.42 16.7896 10.6 16.7896 8.86999 17.9396Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_3111_32669\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Rule 2: Write the job breakdown as a team, not by yourself<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_5016)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M5.73986 16C5.84986 15.51 5.64986 14.81 5.29986 14.46L2.86986 12.03C2.10986 11.27 1.80986 10.46 2.02986 9.76C2.25986 9.06 2.96986 8.58 4.02986 8.4L7.14986 7.88C7.59986 7.8 8.14986 7.4 8.35986 6.99L10.0799 3.54C10.5799 2.55 11.2599 2 11.9999 2C12.7399 2 13.4199 2.55 13.9199 3.54L15.6399 6.99C15.7699 7.25 16.0399 7.5 16.3299 7.67L5.55986 18.44C5.41986 18.58 5.17986 18.45 5.21986 18.25L5.73986 16Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M18.6998 14.4599C18.3398 14.8199 18.1398 15.5099 18.2598 15.9999L18.9498 19.0099C19.2398 20.2599 19.0598 21.1999 18.4398 21.6499C18.1898 21.8299 17.8898 21.9199 17.5398 21.9199C17.0298 21.9199 16.4298 21.7299 15.7698 21.3399L12.8398 19.5999C12.3798 19.3299 11.6198 19.3299 11.1598 19.5999L8.2298 21.3399C7.1198 21.9899 6.1698 22.0999 5.5598 21.6499C5.3298 21.4799 5.1598 21.2499 5.0498 20.9499L17.2098 8.7899C17.6698 8.3299 18.3198 8.1199 18.9498 8.2299L19.9598 8.3999C21.0198 8.5799 21.7298 9.0599 21.9598 9.7599C22.1798 10.4599 21.8798 11.2699 21.1198 12.0299L18.6998 14.4599Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_5016\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Rule 3: Make sure the team includes subject matter experts - the most skilled operators<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M16.19 2H7.81C4.17 2 2 4.17 2 7.81V16.18C2 19.83 4.17 22 7.81 22H16.18C19.82 22 21.99 19.83 21.99 16.19V7.81C22 4.17 19.83 2 16.19 2Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M17.85 13.5296C17.77 13.3496 17.63 13.1996 17.44 13.1196C17.35 13.0796 17.25 13.0596 17.15 13.0596H6.85001C6.44001 13.0596 6.10001 13.3996 6.10001 13.8096C6.10001 14.2196 6.44001 14.5596 6.85001 14.5596H15.35L13.59 16.3196C13.3 16.6096 13.3 17.0896 13.59 17.3796C13.74 17.5296 13.93 17.5996 14.12 17.5996C14.31 17.5996 14.5 17.5296 14.65 17.3796L17.69 14.3396C17.76 14.2696 17.81 14.1896 17.85 14.0996C17.92 13.9196 17.92 13.7096 17.85 13.5296Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M6.15 10.4698C6.23 10.6498 6.37 10.7998 6.56 10.8798C6.65 10.9198 6.75 10.9398 6.85 10.9398H17.16C17.57 10.9398 17.91 10.5998 17.91 10.1898C17.91 9.77984 17.57 9.43984 17.16 9.43984H8.66L10.42 7.67984C10.71 7.38984 10.71 6.90984 10.42 6.61984C10.13 6.32984 9.65 6.32984 9.36 6.61984L6.32 9.64984C6.25 9.71984 6.19 9.80984 6.15 9.89984C6.08 10.0798 6.08 10.2898 6.15 10.4698Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Rule 4: Test the job breakdown with your team. Practice to make sure it is not missing critical details and to define appropriate coaching units<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e14ced7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e14ced7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>From experience, I know this is important.<\/p><p>During my first ever real job back in automotive, one of my tasks was to write Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Procedures for the ISO9000 manual. It was a tremendous learning experience &#8211; I found out early on that procedures that looked great on my PC in the office, written by myself alone, were completely useless.<\/p><p>During those early stages, I would proudly take out my shiny new procedure that I had written with barely any consultation with the people doing the job and basically get told to move on. (See Rule 1 &#8211; I am being diplomatic in describing what they actually said.)<\/p><p>I learned that the whole process worked much better when I worked with the team on the workplace and Gemba to document what they were already doing, and then worked with them to agree any changes that were necessary to meet the Quality Standard. (See Rules 2, 3 and 4.) They had a much higher degree of ownership when I did things that way.<\/p><p>When this is done as a team, each member gets to describe how they carry out the task. Often everyone is doing it differently &#8211; and when this is surfaced, everyone gets to contribute and evaluate each other&#8217;s method. This leads to what I call the &#8216;best of method&#8217;: the team agrees on a compilation of each member&#8217;s best ways of doing a task, which is better than anyone&#8217;s individual approach. Not only does this create ownership within the team, but this process of creating a new baseline raises the standard of how that process is carried out for everyone.<\/p><p>This is a huge source of process improvement &#8211; one of the most often missed benefits of implementing SOPs. It is also a great way of building team cohesion.<\/p><p>In my early automotive days, I also learned another crucial lesson that few people are truly aware of.<\/p><p>If you are going to create an SOP, and that SOP adds burden to the people doing the job &#8211; and that burden is not 100% necessary and understood &#8211; the standard will not be followed. You will turn yourself into a police person trying to enforce the law all the time. It is key that the Standard makes getting a high-quality outcome easier, not more difficult. Easy, simple, high-quality processes get followed. Difficult, complex processes are always a struggle<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8723377 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8723377\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a4b306 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6a4b306\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to Get Your Team to Follow SOPs<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3930d2d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3930d2d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2346969 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2346969\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When we follow the process for writing the SOP already described, that is a big step toward ensuring that the people actually doing the job feel ownership for the SOP and are therefore likely to follow it. But on its own, this is unlikely to be enough.<\/p><p>It is key that everyone who carries out a given task is trained in how to do it as per the SOP. This is especially important for business-critical, value-adding processes.<\/p><p>This was another key part of the learning we received from Mark. We developed this graphic based on his material.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68e7091 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"68e7091\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The four steps for training someone to an SOP<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8af0755 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8af0755\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1014\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SOP-Instruction-Card-Instructor.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5370\" alt=\"SOP Instruction Card Instructor\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SOP-Instruction-Card-Instructor.png 1014w, https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SOP-Instruction-Card-Instructor-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SOP-Instruction-Card-Instructor-1000x603.png 1000w, https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SOP-Instruction-Card-Instructor-768x463.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1014px) 100vw, 1014px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8650260 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8650260\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In my experience, very few organizations outside of automotive truly understand this. It is generally the exact opposite.<\/p><p>Preparing the worker (Step 1) and presenting the operation (Step 2) in a manner that they understand clearly &#8211; why each step is necessary and the key points to look out for &#8211; is the responsibility of the INSTRUCTOR. Trying out the new person&#8217;s performance (Step 3) so that the INSTRUCTOR is validating their understanding before they go on their own (Step 4), and then ensuring they get adequately supported before tapering off the coaching, is key.<\/p><p>For the vast majority of processes, if the new person does not get it, it is because the process is unclear, too complex or burdensome, or the instructor has not done Steps 1 to 3 properly. It is a true case of &#8216;attack the process, not the person.&#8217;<\/p><p>Failure in this area is a key reason why so many businesses have a problem with a &#8216;churn&#8217; of new starters who do not stay long in the business, whilst creating a huge burden on the long-term team members who constantly have to support the new starts &#8211; causing further reductions in productivity because they are not actually adding value.<\/p><p>It is a great example where &#8216;pulling the andon&#8217; and understanding what the root causes of the problem are really helps. Very often, the problems lie in these areas: poorly documented standards and training processes that stress out the new starters and the existing long-term people alike. Management needs to understand this and support a change in approach. The results can be miraculous.<\/p><p><em><strong>Training is evidently key &#8211; but it does not just end there.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-040914d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"040914d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd141f1 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bd141f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to Keep SOPs Current<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8cb5ad4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8cb5ad4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c16937e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c16937e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>SOPs cannot be viewed as monuments &#8211; put in place once and never to be moved. A well-implemented SOP culture views SOPs as the baseline, the standard that everyone must follow. But there must also be a process in place that facilitates change and improvement.<\/p><p><b><i>This is most often the place that well-intentioned SOP efforts fall down.<\/i><\/b><\/p><p>Outdated methods &#8211; creating and editing in spreadsheets, for example &#8211; mean that adding or moving a process step turns into hours of effort. Managing a proper document control system to cope with revisions adds even more.<\/p><p>Often these tasks fall on one over-burdened individual who becomes the bottleneck. Eventually people just start to bypass the system. When that happens &#8211; or if the process for making changes is too cumbersome for any other reason &#8211; it will not be long before the SOPs turn into &#8216;wallpaper.&#8217; They look good, but because they are now out of date, nobody is following them, and they probably provide more harm than benefit. They become a false source of security.<\/p><p>This particular pain-point is one of the primary reasons we developed GembaDocs. Edits can be made in seconds, approved in minutes by the appropriate people, and put live instantly &#8211; all done on the Gemba by the appropriate team. No running backward and forward to a computer for hours. Minutes.<\/p><p>These days we have also built in the \u201cfeedback feature\u201d which makes the last step of the SOP a QR code inviting the viewer to provide feedback on the SOP. Is it still current? Has something changed? Did they not understand something? Prompting for feedback in this manner, closes the lopp on your system.<\/p><p>We do not know of a better way. It makes SOPs living, breathing and useful.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de59938 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"de59938\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f552a91 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f552a91\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Step-by-Step SOPs or Single Video SOPs: Which Should You Use?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a16d473 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a16d473\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa7a60e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fa7a60e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Some organizations try to deal with SOPs by using a single 10min long video as a method of documenting a procedure. In the first instance, this seems like the perfect answer &#8211; it can only take minutes to shoot a video on someone&#8217;s phone, right?<\/p><p>But then you probably need to edit it, which takes time. Then it needs to be hosted somewhere in order to be accessible to people on the Gemba &#8211; a server, the cloud, or a platform like YouTube or Vimeo.<\/p><p>Still manageable? Easy enough to document a process?<\/p><p>Up until you want to use it as a training tool for a new starter.<\/p><p>For a physical process, you can watch the process together first. Then you can pause it intermittently to describe it to the new person. But now you want to gradually move away as they become more autonomous. Are they expected to stop and start the video to remind themselves of process steps? Not much fun.<\/p><p>And what happens if you want to make a process improvement and the video needs to be revised to bring it up to date?<\/p><p>Video SOPs make organizations feel good &#8211; but the real test is: how many times do they get updated? If that number is low, the SOP is probably either out of date or not much is happening in the way of Process Improvement.<\/p><p>In our organization, some processes are on revision 10 and they have only been operating for 6 months. We make improvements and update our SOPs instantly using GembaDocs.<\/p><p>That is why we recommend step-by-step SOPs with photos, text or video. Step-by-step SOPs are a better training tool, and the lack of friction involved in keeping them up to date when making process improvements makes them a winning solution.<\/p><p>The Video to SOP tool for mobile, and desktop, in GembaDocs takes those long videos, and splices them into easy to follow steps \u2013 far better than one 10min long video with no captions or step jumps to the right section.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9b5f76 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b9b5f76\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d55e4e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8d55e4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to Make SOPs Accessible at the Point of Use<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a993eba e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a993eba\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc76d39 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cc76d39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>How team members are able to access SOPs is also important. How often have we seen work instructions, how-to&#8217;s, or manuals put into a file and then put away in a drawer just to gather dust? Hardly a way for them to be living, breathing, useful standards within an organization.<\/p><p>Whatever the SOP, it is key that the standard is easily accessible at Point Of Use and that all relevant team members know how to access them. The key phrase here for you to remember is \u201cPut the answer where the question is asked.\u201d<\/p><p>SOPs can be made accessible in the following ways:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f031f08 elementor-align-start elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"f031f08\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_4825)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M20.5 10.19H17.61C15.24 10.19 13.31 8.26 13.31 5.89V3C13.31 2.45 12.86 2 12.31 2H8.07C4.99 2 2.5 4 2.5 7.57V16.43C2.5 20 4.99 22 8.07 22H15.93C19.01 22 21.5 20 21.5 16.43V11.19C21.5 10.64 21.05 10.19 20.5 10.19Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M15.8002 2.21048C15.3902 1.80048 14.6802 2.08048 14.6802 2.65048V6.14048C14.6802 7.60048 15.9202 8.81048 17.4302 8.81048C18.3802 8.82048 19.7002 8.82048 20.8302 8.82048C21.4002 8.82048 21.7002 8.15048 21.3002 7.75048C19.8602 6.30048 17.2802 3.69048 15.8002 2.21048Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M13.5 13.75H7.5C7.09 13.75 6.75 13.41 6.75 13C6.75 12.59 7.09 12.25 7.5 12.25H13.5C13.91 12.25 14.25 12.59 14.25 13C14.25 13.41 13.91 13.75 13.5 13.75Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M11.5 17.75H7.5C7.09 17.75 6.75 17.41 6.75 17C6.75 16.59 7.09 16.25 7.5 16.25H11.5C11.91 16.25 12.25 16.59 12.25 17C12.25 17.41 11.91 17.75 11.5 17.75Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_4825\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Printed out and displayed in full.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_4657)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M2 9.75C1.59 9.75 1.25 9.41 1.25 9V6.5C1.25 3.6 3.61 1.25 6.5 1.25H9C9.41 1.25 9.75 1.59 9.75 2C9.75 2.41 9.41 2.75 9 2.75H6.5C4.43 2.75 2.75 4.43 2.75 6.5V9C2.75 9.41 2.41 9.75 2 9.75Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M22 9.75C21.59 9.75 21.25 9.41 21.25 9V6.5C21.25 4.43 19.57 2.75 17.5 2.75H15C14.59 2.75 14.25 2.41 14.25 2C14.25 1.59 14.59 1.25 15 1.25H17.5C20.39 1.25 22.75 3.6 22.75 6.5V9C22.75 9.41 22.41 9.75 22 9.75Z\"><\/path><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M17.5 22.75H16C15.59 22.75 15.25 22.41 15.25 22C15.25 21.59 15.59 21.25 16 21.25H17.5C19.57 21.25 21.25 19.57 21.25 17.5V16C21.25 15.59 21.59 15.25 22 15.25C22.41 15.25 22.75 15.59 22.75 16V17.5C22.75 20.4 20.39 22.75 17.5 22.75Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M9 22.75H6.5C3.61 22.75 1.25 20.4 1.25 17.5V15C1.25 14.59 1.59 14.25 2 14.25C2.41 14.25 2.75 14.59 2.75 15V17.5C2.75 19.57 4.43 21.25 6.5 21.25H9C9.41 21.25 9.75 21.59 9.75 22C9.75 22.41 9.41 22.75 9 22.75Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M9 5.25H7C5.86 5.25 5.25 5.85 5.25 7V9C5.25 10.15 5.86 10.75 7 10.75H9C10.14 10.75 10.75 10.15 10.75 9V7C10.75 5.85 10.14 5.25 9 5.25Z\"><\/path><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M17 5.25H15C13.86 5.25 13.25 5.85 13.25 7V9C13.25 10.15 13.86 10.75 15 10.75H17C18.14 10.75 18.75 10.15 18.75 9V7C18.75 5.85 18.14 5.25 17 5.25Z\"><\/path><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M9 13.25H7C5.86 13.25 5.25 13.85 5.25 15V17C5.25 18.15 5.86 18.75 7 18.75H9C10.14 18.75 10.75 18.15 10.75 17V15C10.75 13.85 10.14 13.25 9 13.25Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M17 13.25H15C13.86 13.25 13.25 13.85 13.25 15V17C13.25 18.15 13.86 18.75 15 18.75H17C18.14 18.75 18.75 18.15 18.75 17V15C18.75 13.85 18.14 13.25 17 13.25Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_4657\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">A QR code scanned by a mobile device to display the SOP. This can also be put onto applicable process documentation and automated within an ERP system.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#ff9400\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_4242)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M10.9999 7.5V16.5C10.9999 17.05 10.5499 17.5 9.99989 17.5H7.49989C5.97989 17.5 4.60989 16.88 3.60989 15.89C2.66989 14.94 2.05989 13.65 1.99989 12.22C1.87989 9.08 4.61989 6.5 7.76989 6.5H9.99989C10.5499 6.5 10.9999 6.95 10.9999 7.5Z\"><\/path><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M21.9998 11.78C22.1298 14.93 19.3898 17.5 16.2398 17.5H14.0098C13.4598 17.5 13.0098 17.05 13.0098 16.5V7.5C13.0098 6.95 13.4598 6.5 14.0098 6.5H16.5098C18.0298 6.5 19.3998 7.12 20.3998 8.11C21.3298 9.06 21.9398 10.35 21.9998 11.78Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M16 12.75H8C7.59 12.75 7.25 12.41 7.25 12C7.25 11.59 7.59 11.25 8 11.25H16C16.41 11.25 16.75 11.59 16.75 12C16.75 12.41 16.41 12.75 16 12.75Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_4242\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Presented as a QR code or a link within the trigger for the work e.g. a Works Order or Job Card.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_4950)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M7.1099 5.9593L16.1299 2.9493C20.1799 1.5993 22.3799 3.8093 21.0399 7.8593L18.0299 16.8793C16.0099 22.9493 12.6899 22.9493 10.6699 16.8793L9.7799 14.1993L7.0999 13.3093C1.0399 11.2993 1.0399 7.9893 7.1099 5.9593Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12.1201 11.6305L15.9301 7.81055L12.1201 11.6305Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12.1201 12.38C11.9301 12.38 11.7401 12.31 11.5901 12.16C11.3001 11.87 11.3001 11.39 11.5901 11.1L15.3901 7.28C15.6801 6.99 16.1601 6.99 16.4501 7.28C16.7401 7.57 16.7401 8.05 16.4501 8.34L12.6501 12.16C12.5001 12.3 12.3101 12.38 12.1201 12.38Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_4950\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">A Lean Bible where SOPs can be accessed via URL links for reference.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_5141)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M21.97 6.41V12.91H2V6.41C2 3.98 3.98 2 6.41 2H17.56C19.99 2 21.97 3.98 21.97 6.41Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M2 12.9199V13.1199C2 15.5599 3.98 17.5299 6.41 17.5299H10.25C10.8 17.5299 11.25 17.9799 11.25 18.5299V19.4999C11.25 20.0499 10.8 20.4999 10.25 20.4999H7.83C7.42 20.4999 7.08 20.8399 7.08 21.2499C7.08 21.6599 7.41 21.9999 7.83 21.9999H16.18C16.59 21.9999 16.93 21.6599 16.93 21.2499C16.93 20.8399 16.59 20.4999 16.18 20.4999H13.76C13.21 20.4999 12.76 20.0499 12.76 19.4999V18.5299C12.76 17.9799 13.21 17.5299 13.76 17.5299H17.57C20.01 17.5299 21.98 15.5499 21.98 13.1199V12.9199H2Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_5141\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Via a mobile or desktop application when they have been generated with specific software - for example, GembaDocs.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48507a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"48507a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The appropriate method depends on the application. Incidentally, we designed GembaDocs to have an &#8216;always latest&#8217; URL &#8211; meaning that if SOPs are kept in a Lean Bible or an ERP system, the URL when clicked (or QR code when scanned) will always display the latest version without the user or administrator needing to do anything else. The right version is always in front of the right person.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1afcd2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c1afcd2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c0d663a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3c0d663a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b677919 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1b677919\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Discover GembaDocs<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-114f4287 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"114f4287\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4fbdfc56 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4fbdfc56\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-895ae1f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"895ae1f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-768219bb elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"768219bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_4751)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M19.9 13.5H4.1C2.6 13.5 2 14.14 2 15.73V19.77C2 21.36 2.6 22 4.1 22H19.9C21.4 22 22 21.36 22 19.77V15.73C22 14.14 21.4 13.5 19.9 13.5Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M19.9 2H4.1C2.6 2 2 2.64 2 4.23V8.27C2 9.86 2.6 10.5 4.1 10.5H19.9C21.4 10.5 22 9.86 22 8.27V4.23C22 2.64 21.4 2 19.9 2Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_4751\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f0ea10 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3f0ea10\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">SOP<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-656ab785 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"656ab785\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Create, manage, and share standard operating procedures your operators will actually use. Built for the shop floor, accessible on any device.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5132b171 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5132b171\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2633c934 elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"2633c934\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/product-update-may-2026\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M224.3 273l-136 136c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.6-22.6c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l96.4-96.4-96.4-96.4c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9L54.3 103c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l136 136c9.5 9.4 9.5 24.6.1 34z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-670058cd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"670058cd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fa839fb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5fa839fb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3691f6a elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"3691f6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_4841)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M16.24 3.65039H7.76004C5.29004 3.65039 3.29004 5.66039 3.29004 8.12039V17.5304C3.29004 19.9904 5.30004 22.0004 7.76004 22.0004H16.23C18.7 22.0004 20.7 19.9904 20.7 17.5304V8.12039C20.71 5.65039 18.7 3.65039 16.24 3.65039Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M14.3498 2H9.64977C8.60977 2 7.75977 2.84 7.75977 3.88V4.82C7.75977 5.86 8.59977 6.7 9.63977 6.7H14.3498C15.3898 6.7 16.2298 5.86 16.2298 4.82V3.88C16.2398 2.84 15.3898 2 14.3498 2Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M10.81 16.9506C10.62 16.9506 10.43 16.8806 10.28 16.7306L8.78 15.2306C8.49 14.9406 8.49 14.4606 8.78 14.1706C9.07 13.8806 9.55 13.8806 9.84 14.1706L10.81 15.1406L14.28 11.6706C14.57 11.3806 15.05 11.3806 15.34 11.6706C15.63 11.9606 15.63 12.4406 15.34 12.7306L11.34 16.7306C11.2 16.8806 11 16.9506 10.81 16.9506Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_4841\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28ff75f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"28ff75f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Kanban cards\n<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6717d904 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6717d904\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDigital Kanban cards for physical inventory replenishment. QR codes, supplier details, reorder points, and part information &#8211; all in one place.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78a60812 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"78a60812\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c3acc97 elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"2c3acc97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/kanban\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M224.3 273l-136 136c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.6-22.6c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l96.4-96.4-96.4-96.4c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9L54.3 103c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l136 136c9.5 9.4 9.5 24.6.1 34z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3dc6d620 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3dc6d620\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3220b11c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3220b11c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e6f59c5 elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"2e6f59c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_5186)\"><path d=\"M21.6697 6.94942C21.0297 4.77942 19.2197 2.96942 17.0497 2.32942C15.3997 1.84942 14.2597 1.88942 13.4697 2.47942C12.5197 3.18942 12.4097 4.46942 12.4097 5.37942V7.86942C12.4097 10.3294 13.5297 11.5794 15.7297 11.5794H18.5997C19.4997 11.5794 20.7897 11.4694 21.4997 10.5194C22.1097 9.73942 22.1597 8.59942 21.6697 6.94942Z\"><\/path><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M18.9099 13.3592C18.6499 13.0592 18.2699 12.8892 17.8799 12.8892H14.2999C12.5399 12.8892 11.1099 11.4592 11.1099 9.69917V6.11917C11.1099 5.72917 10.9399 5.34917 10.6399 5.08917C10.3499 4.82917 9.9499 4.70917 9.5699 4.75917C7.2199 5.05917 5.0599 6.34917 3.6499 8.28917C2.2299 10.2392 1.7099 12.6192 2.1599 14.9992C2.8099 18.4392 5.5599 21.1892 9.0099 21.8392C9.5599 21.9492 10.1099 21.9992 10.6599 21.9992C12.4699 21.9992 14.2199 21.4392 15.7099 20.3492C17.6499 18.9392 18.9399 16.7792 19.2399 14.4292C19.2899 14.0392 19.1699 13.6492 18.9099 13.3592Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_5186\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-406b8248 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"406b8248\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Skills matrix<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24468ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"24468ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTrack operator competency, identify training gaps, and support cross-training across your team. Live, digital, and integrated with your SOPs.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10279277 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"10279277\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bd8e2f7 elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"3bd8e2f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/skills-2\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M224.3 273l-136 136c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.6-22.6c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l96.4-96.4-96.4-96.4c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9L54.3 103c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l136 136c9.5 9.4 9.5 24.6.1 34z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76cdea9b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"76cdea9b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25f4e3d3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"25f4e3d3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2aab8877 elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"2aab8877\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#003659\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_4418_5217)\"><path opacity=\"0.4\" d=\"M12.5002 7.41035V22.0003H4.08021C2.92021 22.0003 1.97021 21.0703 1.97021 19.9303V5.09035C1.97021 2.47035 3.93022 1.28035 6.32022 2.45035L10.7502 4.64035C11.7102 5.11035 12.5002 6.36035 12.5002 7.41035Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.97 9.75H5.5C5.09 9.75 4.75 9.41 4.75 9C4.75 8.59 5.09 8.25 5.5 8.25H8.97C9.38 8.25 9.72 8.59 9.72 9C9.72 9.41 9.39 9.75 8.97 9.75Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.97 13.75H5.5C5.09 13.75 4.75 13.41 4.75 13C4.75 12.59 5.09 12.25 5.5 12.25H8.97C9.38 12.25 9.72 12.59 9.72 13C9.72 13.41 9.39 13.75 8.97 13.75Z\"><\/path><path opacity=\"0.6\" d=\"M22 15.0499V19.4999C22 20.8799 20.88 21.9999 19.5 21.9999H12.5V10.4199L12.97 10.5199L17.01 11.4199L17.49 11.5299L19.53 11.9899C20.02 12.0899 20.47 12.2599 20.86 12.5099C20.86 12.5199 20.87 12.5199 20.87 12.5199C20.97 12.5899 21.07 12.6699 21.16 12.7599C21.62 13.2199 21.92 13.8899 21.99 14.8699C21.99 14.9299 22 14.9899 22 15.0499Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12.5 10.4199V16.4199C12.96 17.0299 13.68 17.4199 14.5 17.4199C15.89 17.4199 17.01 16.2999 17.01 14.9199V11.4299L12.97 10.5299L12.5 10.4199Z\"><\/path><path d=\"M21.9898 14.8699C21.9198 13.8899 21.6198 13.2199 21.1598 12.7599C21.0698 12.6699 20.9698 12.5899 20.8698 12.5199C20.8698 12.5199 20.8598 12.5199 20.8598 12.5099C20.4698 12.2599 20.0198 12.0899 19.5298 11.9899L17.4898 11.5299L17.0098 11.4199V14.9199C17.0098 16.2899 18.1198 17.4199 19.5098 17.4199C20.8498 17.4199 21.9198 16.3699 21.9998 15.0599V15.0499C21.9998 14.9899 21.9898 14.9299 21.9898 14.8699Z\"><\/path><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_4418_5217\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-381033f8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"381033f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">On-premise<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d9ea841 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d9ea841\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNeed to host GembaDocs on your own server? Our on-premise option is available for larger organizations with specific data or IT requirements.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-430930d7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"430930d7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b51f12b elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"1b51f12b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/on-premise\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M224.3 273l-136 136c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0l-22.6-22.6c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l96.4-96.4-96.4-96.4c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9L54.3 103c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l136 136c9.5 9.4 9.5 24.6.1 34z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A practical guide to SOPs: what they are, why they matter, how to write them, and how to make sure they stick. From Tom Hughes, CEO of GembaDocs and lean champion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_ayudawp_aiss_exclude":false,"_ayudawp_aiss_exclude_summary":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-93","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) | A Complete Guide | GembaDocs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A practical guide to SOPs: what they are, why they matter, how to write them, and how to make sure they stick. From Tom Hughes, CEO of GembaDocs and lean champion.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) | A Complete Guide | GembaDocs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A practical guide to SOPs: what they are, why they matter, how to write them, and how to make sure they stick. From Tom Hughes, CEO of GembaDocs and lean champion.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/sop-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"GembaDocs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-20T14:27:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Why-Gemba-Docs.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"627\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"16 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/sop-guide\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/sop-guide\\\/\",\"name\":\"Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) | A Complete Guide | GembaDocs\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/sop-guide\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/sop-guide\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Why-Gemba-Docs.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-03T09:48:42+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-20T14:27:23+00:00\",\"description\":\"A practical guide to SOPs: what they are, why they matter, how to write them, and how to make sure they stick. From Tom Hughes, CEO of GembaDocs and lean champion.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/sop-guide\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/sop-guide\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/sop-guide\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Why-Gemba-Docs.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Why-Gemba-Docs.png\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":627},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/sop-guide\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Guide to SOPs\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/\",\"name\":\"GembaDocs\",\"description\":\"Where process becomes the standard\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"GembaDocs\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/GembaDocs-Logo-Main.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/GembaDocs-Logo-Main.png\",\"width\":1459,\"height\":1460,\"caption\":\"GembaDocs\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\\\/getgembadocs\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) | A Complete Guide | GembaDocs","description":"A practical guide to SOPs: what they are, why they matter, how to write them, and how to make sure they stick. From Tom Hughes, CEO of GembaDocs and lean champion.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) | A Complete Guide | GembaDocs","og_description":"A practical guide to SOPs: what they are, why they matter, how to write them, and how to make sure they stick. From Tom Hughes, CEO of GembaDocs and lean champion.","og_url":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/sop-guide\/","og_site_name":"GembaDocs","article_modified_time":"2026-07-20T14:27:23+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":627,"url":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Why-Gemba-Docs.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"16 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/sop-guide\/","url":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/sop-guide\/","name":"Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) | A Complete Guide | GembaDocs","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/sop-guide\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/sop-guide\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Why-Gemba-Docs.png","datePublished":"2026-06-03T09:48:42+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-20T14:27:23+00:00","description":"A practical guide to SOPs: what they are, why they matter, how to write them, and how to make sure they stick. From Tom Hughes, CEO of GembaDocs and lean champion.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/sop-guide\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/sop-guide\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/sop-guide\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Why-Gemba-Docs.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Why-Gemba-Docs.png","width":1200,"height":627},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/sop-guide\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Guide to SOPs"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/#website","url":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/","name":"GembaDocs","description":"Where process becomes the standard","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/#organization","name":"GembaDocs","url":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GembaDocs-Logo-Main.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GembaDocs-Logo-Main.png","width":1459,"height":1460,"caption":"GembaDocs"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6598,"href":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93\/revisions\/6598"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gembadev.3rddigital.com\/getgembadocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}