How to write SOP’s for Human Error Reduction

Human error is known to be the primary cause of quality and production losses in many industries. Although it is unlikely that human error will ever be eliminated, many human performance problems can be prevented. Human errors start at the design stage. Procedures play a vital role in human reliability. Nevertheless, it is essential to understand human behavior and the psychology of error as well as understand exactly where the instructions weaknesses are so that procedures can be human engineered, improved and fixed.

Why You Should Attend:

Procedures account for more than 40% of human error events in manufacturing. The majority of regulatory citations are also related to procedures. Procedures are essential for both execution and audits. These should be written for users without missing relevant information for regulators. Usually, procedures have weaknesses that harm productivity, quality, and regulatory standing. We will discuss from content development to formats designed for human error reduction due to procedures.

Areas Covered in the Session :  

SOP writing outline

Content development

The rationale for procedure use

Regulatory compliance background

Universal purpose of procedures

The Human Perspective

Human Error as a root cause

The thinking and reading process

Common mistakes and causes

How to create and maintain a procedure

Goals of a procedure

Good Procedure Writing practices (Terminology, Formats, layouts, mixed cases, steps content, familiar words, references, branching, conditional steps, the use of “Precautions”, “Warnings” and “Cautions,”

Procedure styles

Use of electronic information networks for procedure access.

Who Should Attend:

QA/QC directors and managers

Process improvement/excellence professionals

Training leaders and managers

Plant engineering

Compliance officers

Regulatory professionals

Executive management

Manufacturing operations directors

Human factors professionals

Course Director: DR. GINETTE COLLAZO

Ginette Collazo, Ph. D. is an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist with 20 years of experience that specializes in Engineering Psychology and Human Reliability, disciplines that study the interaction between human behavior and productivity. She has held positions leading training and human reliability programs in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturing Industry. Nine years ago, Dr. Collazo established Human Error Solutions (HES), a Florida based boutique consulting firm, where she has been able to position herself as one of the few Human Error Reduction Experts in the world. HES, led by Dr. Collazo, developed a unique methodology for human error investigations, cause determination, CA-PA development and effectiveness that has been implemented and proven amongst different industries globally. This scientific method has been applied in critical quality situations and workplace accidents. She is the author of the book Human Error: Root Cause Determination Model, published in 2008. She is also a speaker at significant events like Interphex, FDAnews Annual Conference, Global Conference on Process Safety, International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics, and of course, Pharmaceutical Industry Association.