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What is a SOP? Standard Operating Procedure explained
Last updated: Mayo 2026
A SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) is a document that describes in detail and in a standardised way how a specific process or task should be executed within an organisation. It is the written guide that allows anyone — regardless of their experience — to perform the task correctly and consistently.
SOPs are the foundation of operational quality. A company where processes only exist in people's heads is fragile: when that person is unavailable, quality drops or the process stops.
Why are SOPs important?
- Consistency — Everyone executes the task the same way, eliminating variations that create errors or quality differences.
- Faster training — New employees learn faster when they have clear documentation. Adaptation time can be reduced from 6 months to a few weeks.
- Business continuity — If a key person is on leave or leaves the company, the knowledge is not lost: it is in the SOPs.
- Regulatory compliance — ISO 9001, EFQM and other quality standards require that processes be documented and reproducible.
- Continuous improvement — You can only improve what is documented. SOPs are the baseline from which you measure and optimise.
SOP vs process diagram: which to use?
The flowchart and the SOP are complementary, not alternatives:
- The diagram shows the sequence and visual structure of the process. Ideal for understanding the flow at a glance and seeing where decisions are made.
- The SOP explains in detail how to execute each step. It complements the diagram with specific instructions that do not fit in a node.
The most effective combination is: process diagram linked to its SOP. In Mapaflow, the procedure editor lets you create this combination directly: each diagram can have its written procedure attached.
Ready to document your company's SOPs? Start free in Mapaflow — no credit card, no commitment.
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Frequently asked questions
- SOP stands for Standard Operating Procedure. It is a document that describes step by step how to perform a task or process in a standardised way, indicating who does it, how, with what resources and under what quality criteria.
- The flowchart is the visual representation of the process (what steps there are and in what order). The SOP is the written document that describes in detail how to execute each step: specific instructions, tools to use, acceptance criteria and responsible parties. Ideally you have both: the diagram to visualise and the SOP to execute.
- ISO 9001:2015 does not explicitly require SOPs, but it does require the organisation to maintain sufficient documented information to ensure that processes are carried out as planned (clause 8.1). In practice, SOPs are the most common way to meet this requirement.
- Yes. Mapaflow includes an integrated procedure editor that allows you to write the SOP directly linked to the corresponding process diagram. This way, the written document and the visual diagram are always synchronised in the same place.
- A complete SOP should include: procedure title and code, objective and scope, responsible parties (who executes it and who approves it), required materials and resources, detailed procedure steps, quality criteria and checkpoints, references to regulations or related documents, and revision date and version.