---
title: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
description: "The best way of working is useless if it lives only in one person’s head. An SOP makes it visible, teachable and the base for the next improvement. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains…"
url: "https://skillagility.com/en/resources/standard-operating-procedure/"
updated: "2026-10-08"
category: 04 IMPROVE
---

# Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

The best way of working is useless if it lives only in one person’s head. An SOP makes it visible, teachable and the base for the next improvement. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a worked example and gives you a blank template to fill in.

Tool video

The short tool video will appear here.

[Standard-Operating-Procedure_Toolkit_EN](https://skillagility.com/wp-content/plugins/embedpress/assets/pdf/web/viewer.html?&file=https%3A%2F%2Fskillagility.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F10%2FStandard-Operating-Procedure_Toolkit_EN.pdf#key=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)

## Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in short

1. **Watch the best way.** Observe the task with an experienced person. Note each step.
2. **Write it down together.** Short steps, active verbs, one action per line.
3. **Add the key points.** What makes it right, safe or easier? Add photos.
4. **Test it.** Let someone new follow the SOP. Fix what is unclear.
5. **Release and display.** Owner, version and date. Place it where the work happens.

Key points

- Document the best known way.
- Short, visual, at the workstation.
- Written with the people who use it.
- Update it with every improvement.

**Related tools:** [Poka-Yoke](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/poka-yoke/) · [7 Wastes (TIMWOOD)](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/7-wastes/) · [Rollout Plan](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/rollout-plan/)