Does it go wrong in a way that costs real money or a customer?
If a mistake here is expensive, that's a point toward writing it down.
Operandi working diagnostic
Does this actually
need an SOP?
Not every task needs a written procedure. Some do. A lot of operations get this backwards—documenting the easy stuff and leaving the risky stuff in someone's head. Here's a five-question working diagnostic for deciding what's worth writing down.
Does more than one person do it—or will they?
A process that lives in one head walks out the door when that person does.
Is there a right sequence that isn't obvious?
If the order of steps matters and it's easy to get wrong, that's a point for standardizing it.
Does it need to survive a busy Monday?
If the task falls apart when it's hectic, that's exactly when a procedure earns its keep.
Do you want it done the same way every time?
Some work should be consistent. Some should stay flexible. Be honest about which this is.
The more often you answer yes, the stronger the case for documenting the process. This is a practical decision aid, not a universal rule—safety, regulatory, quality, training, contractual, and customer requirements always take priority.
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