Procedure

A procedure is a series of activities, tasks, steps, decisions, calculations and other processes, that when undertaken in the sequence laid down produces the described result, product or outcome. Following a procedure should produce repeatable results for the same input conditions. For this reason, formal written procedures are usually used in manufacturing and process industry operations to ensure safety and consistency. However, constant review or continuous improvement along with proper change management is usually advisable to ensure the continued applicability of written procedures in the face of change in supplies, product specifications, or surrounding work processes.

Related Topics:
Decision - Calculation - Process - Manufacturing - Operations - Safety - Consistency - Continuous improvement - Change management

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Recorded procedures are usually called instructions or recipes. High-level procedures are sometimes known as methods.

Related Topics:
Instruction - Recipe - Method

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For example, the procedure for baking a cake from a packet mix may consist of the following steps:

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• Pre-heating the oven.
• Opening the mix box.
• Mixing the batter.
• Putting the cake in.
• Removing it when it's done.