Do you Own and Run a Restaurant? Tips on How to Create a Standard Operating Procedure

A business SOP removes guesswork about how certain tasks should be performed, ways to improve productivity, teamwork, and efficiency while providing a way to evaluate performance and make improvements.

Steps to Follow When Creating a Standard Operating Procedure

Preparation Protocol

Some of the rules that cover cooling, heating, hand-washing, labeling and other practices that can prevent foodborne illnesses can easily be found in the nearest local health department. Therefore, you can use them as a base for creating a standard operating procedure example for your business. For instance, most public health departments require that restaurant owners cool any cooked items at a temperature between 135 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two hours. When this isn’t accomplished, then you can heat it back to 165 degrees and repeat the process to ensure you meet that recommended cooling time.

Meal Mandates

Your local health department requires that you have a well-written standard operating procedure example that describes all the realms of food preparation and services such as storing, cooking, and sanitizing. It’s important to prove that you have an existing plan in place to monitor, verify, keeping records and also taking any necessary corrective action. A standard operating procedure example for handling food should first be viewed by your employees to test their knowledge during a routine health inspection.

The Big Picture

Having a detailed standard operating procedure will benefit your restaurant because it will spell out how tasks should be done. Written procedures that are well detailed will supplement training manuals and can also be used for cross-training and a reference for employees that are faced by unfamiliar roles. Plans can also curb liabilities.

Now Make it Work

A standard operating procedure can be effective when it’s complete, accepted and useful. However, it takes several weeks and sometimes months to compile a written employee standard operating procedure. Therefore, you can involve your employees to make it less time-consuming while still encouraging a passionate buy-in. You can assign your house staff with the task of listing practical information that can truly affect duties. After the staff is done, the managers can then review.