Procedure (business)

{{Short description|Document instructing workers}}

A procedure is a document that instructs workers on executing one or more activities of a business process.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sweetprocess.com/what-are-the-differences-between-a-policy-a-process-and-a-procedure-why-knowing-this-is-the-key-to-scaling-and-automating-your-business/|title=The Key Difference Between a Policy, Process, & Procedure (and Why it Matters For Your Business!) - SweetProcess|date=2013-04-19|newspaper=SweetProcess|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-25}} It describes the sequence of steps, and specifies for each step what needs to be done, often including when the procedure should be executed and by whom.{{Cite web|url=http://www.9001council.org/documentation-requirements.php|title=ISO 9001 Documentation - What is required? {{!}} 9001 Council|website=www.9001council.org|language=en|access-date=2017-01-25}}

Organizations typically document procedures in their published policy and procedures guide, or their standard operating procedure (S.O.P.) guide. A procedures manual or procedural manual typically gathers together a number of procedures used within an organisation,Collections Trust, [https://collectionstrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Guidance-on-developing-a-documentation-procedural-manual.pdf Developing a documentation procedural manual], accessed 28 June 2023 or for a specific set of functions.Keene State College, [https://www.keene.edu/administration/policy/detail/purchasing-manual/ Purchasing Manual], updated 30 October 2017, accessed 28 June 2023 For example all airlines give their pilots a S.O.P which holds all the information regarding flying. While procedures typically detail high level steps, a Work Instruction would provide more detail, for example the tools to use and how precisely to use the tools to carry out the procedure.{{Cite web|url=https://staff.wiki/239,Page,what_is_a_Work_Instruction,KB.aspx|title=What is a Work Instruction?|date=2018-09-15|access-date=2019-11-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcedd.org/documents/IMCP/Ebook%20on%20How%20to%20Implement%20an%20ISO%209001%20QMS.pdf|title=Implementing an ISO 9001 Quality Management System|date=2019-09-17|access-date=2019-09-17}}