Viewing and Creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) lay a strong foundation for your overall school food safety program. SOPs are step-by-step written instructions for routine food service tasks that affect the safety of food (non-specific hazards), such as proper dishwashing procedures, or for tasks that are a part of the HACCP-based plan (specific hazards), such as proper cooking procedures. Each SOP should include instructions on monitoring, documentation, corrective actions, and periodic review of the procedures they cover. Adherence to SOPs allows food service managers and employees to effectively control and prevent hazards.

Viewing SOPs

WebSMARTT provides an extensive list of standard SOPs as well as the ability to create your own SOPs.

Click any SOP to view it in detail.

The SOP Detail screen shows you all the components of your SOP. You may print the SOP and store it so that it can be used at food service sites to train personnel and implement the Standard Operating Procedures.

Creating a New SOP 

If you want to create a Standard Operating Procedure that is not already covered by the default list, use the SOP Wizard and create a new SOP.

1. On the Setup - SOPs page, you may add a completely new SOP by clicking Add New, or you may create an SOP similar to an existing one by selecting an SOP from the drop-down menu and clicking Add Copy.
   
2. After the SOP Wizard opens, enter a Name for the SOP.
3. Enter a Purpose for the new SOP.
4. Enter a Scope for the SOP. For example, * Add example here *
5. Enter Keywords that can be used to classify the SOP into common categories.
6. Click Next.
   
7. Enter instructions associated with the SOP. You may add more instructions by clicking Add Instructions. Click the red X next to an instruction step to remove it. Use the arrows to change the order of the steps.
   The Seq # column allows you to keep track of how many steps there are and the order of each one.
8. Click Next.
   
9. Enter monitoring information associated with the SOP.  You may add more monitoring instructions by clicking Add Monitoring Info. Click the red X next to a monitoring step to remove it. Use the arrows to change the order of the steps.
   The Seq # column allows you to keep track of how many steps there are and the order of each one.
10. Click Next.
    
11. Enter corrective actions associated with the SOP.  You may add more corrective actions by clicking Add a Corrective Action. Click the red X next to a corrective action to remove it. Use the arrows to change the order of the corrective actions.
    The Seq # column allows you to keep track of how many corrective actions there are and the order of each one.
12. Click Next.
    
13. Enter verification and record-keeping notes. These include details about what records are to be maintained, how they are to be maintained, and what verification process is to be used.
14. Under Assigned to, enter the person who will be responsible for implementing the SOP.
15. Under Execution Schedule, enter the schedule by which the SOP is to be executed.
16. Under Created by, enter the name of the person who created the SOP.
17. Under Date Created, enter the date the SOP was created.
18. Under Last Revised By, enter the name of the person who last revised the SOP.
19. Under Date Revised, enter the last date the SOP was revised.
20. If the SOP has been implemented, check the Implemented box.
21. Under Implemented by, enter the name of the person who implemented the SOP. This field is set to "Not Implemented" until the Implemented box is checked.
22. Under Date Implemented, enter the date the SOP was implemented.
23. Click Next.
    
24. Assign the SOP to sites and site groups.
    To select sites or site groups, highlight the site or site group in the right pane and use the < arrow to assign that site or site group. To highlight multiple sites or site groups, hold CTRL or SHIFT and click multiple sites or site groups. To assign every available site or site group, use the << arrow. If you have selected a site or site group in error, highlight the site or site group in the left pane and use the > arrow to un-assign it.
25. Click Next.
    
26. After verifying the information in the wizard, click Save and Finish.