SOP stands for Standard Operating Procedure, a document that defines how to perform specific tasks or operations within an organization. Learn the importance, key components, types, and real-world examples of SOPs in various industries. standard operating procedure (SOP), set of written guidelines or instructions for the completion of a routine task, designed to increase performance, improve efficiency, and ensure quality through systemic homogenization. The term was first recorded in the mid-20th century. SOPs are utilized in various contexts by a vast array of entities, including those in the areas of business, education, government, health care, industry, and the military. Although categorical variations are inevitable ... Standard operating procedures, or SOPs, help businesses complete tasks with clarity, precision and consistency. Learn how to write an SOP here. A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations. [1] SOPs aim to achieve efficiency, quality output, and uniformity of performance, while reducing miscommunication and failure to comply with industry regulations. [citation needed] Some military services (e.g., in the US and the UK) use the term standing operating procedure, [2] since a military SOP refers to a unit's unique procedures, which ...