SOP Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms operations, training, and quality teams use to talk about procedures, knowledge, and continuous improvement.
16 terms across 4 categories
C
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Continuous Improvement
An ongoing effort to improve products, processes, and services by making small changes regularly, rather than relying on big one-time initiatives.
Quality & Improvement lean leadership -
Cross-training
Training employees to perform tasks outside their primary role so the team can cover absences, balance load, and keep operations running.
People & Knowledge training onboarding
S
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SOP vs Work Instruction
An SOP defines how a process works end to end. A work instruction tells one operator how to perform one specific task within that process.
Quality & Improvement documentation compliance -
Standard Operating Instruction
A document between an SOP and a work instruction. Defines the procedure for one section of a larger process. Common in pharma, aerospace, and military quality systems.
Documentation documentation compliance -
Standard Operating Procedure
A documented set of step-by-step instructions that defines how a recurring task or process should be performed.
Documentation documentation compliance -
Standard Work
A lean manufacturing concept: the current best-known way to perform a task, defined precisely enough to be repeated and improved.
Documentation lean manufacturing -
Standard Work Instruction
The lean manufacturing version of a work instruction, with takt time and a fixed work sequence built in. Treated as the current best-known method, not a fixed rule.
Documentation documentation manufacturing
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