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necessary to complete tasks
in accordance with industry
regulations, provincial laws or even
just your own standards for running
your business. An SOP, in fact,
defines expected practices in all
businesses where quality standards
exist. SOPs play an important role
in your small business. SOPs are
policies, procedures and standards
you need in the operations, marketing and administration disciplines
within your business to ensure success. According to Akyar (2012)
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) is a process document that
describes in detail the way that an operator should perform a given
operation. SOPs involve the purpose of the operation, the equipment
and materials required, how to perform the set-up and operations
required for the process, how to perform the maintenance and
shutdown operations carried out by the worker, a description of safety
issues, trouble-shooting, a list of spare parts and where to find them,
illustrations, and checklists.
A good system forces employee to think through processes
and examine how procedures might influence product, personnel,
production, and equipment. It should not be forgotten that the “Best
written SOPs will fail if they are not followed” (Hattamer-Apostel, R.
2001), (Jain, SK. 2008). There are some different kinds of SOP namely;
• Fundamental SOPs. These give instructions how to make SOPs of
the other categories.
• Methodic SOPs. These describe a complete testing system or
method of investigation.
• SOPs for safety precautions
• Standard procedures for operating instruments, apparatus and
other equipment.
• SOPs for analytical methods.
• SOPs for the preparation of reagents.
• SOPs for receiving and registration of samples.
• SOPs for Quality Assurance.
• SOPs for archiving and how to deal with complaints. (Akyar, 2012)

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