ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Standard operating procedure

A standard operating procedure is like a set of rules that everyone has to follow when they do a certain task, like cleaning your room or brushing your teeth. It's a plan that tells you exactly what to do to complete a task correctly and safely. Just like you follow a recipe when you bake a cake, standard operating procedures help people do their job right every time.

For example, when a doctor performs surgery, they need to follow specific steps in the same order every time to make sure everything goes smoothly and the patient is safe. They wear special clothes, wash their hands, and make sure all the equipment is sterilized before the surgery starts. These steps are written down in a standard operating procedure to make sure everyone who performs surgery follows the same steps, and there are fewer mistakes.

In a factory, workers might have to operate big machines that could be dangerous if not handled correctly, so they need to follow a standard operating procedure to know how to use the machines safely. The procedure will tell them how to start and stop the machines, how to clean them, and how to deal with any potential problems.

In the end, standard operating procedures make things easier and safer for everyone, because they tell people exactly what to do and when to do it. They make sure people don't forget important steps and that everyone is doing the same thing, which makes things more efficient and helps avoid mistakes.