# A production SOP for every product, from its approved label.

> FCOS Production SOPs (beta): builds a one-page, printable standard operating procedure for a food product from its approved nutrition label. The recipe with batch weights, allergens, market rules and company details are filled in; the team writes the method steps, marks checked and critical steps with limits, and a reviewer approves a versioned PDF.

Canonical: https://fcos.cloud/features/production-sop

FCOS already knows the recipe, the allergens and the market. Your team writes how it is made, and gets a one-page SOP to print once and keep at the line.

[Download a sample SOP (PDF)](https://fcos.cloud/samples/fcos-production-sop-sample.pdf)

## What is a production SOP?

A production SOP (standard operating procedure) is the approved instruction for making a product the same safe way every time: the recipe for one batch, each preparation step, the checks and critical limits, storage, allergens and who signs it off. Auditors ask for it, co-packers work from it and operators follow it on the floor.

## Why food teams build SOPs in FCOS

- **Minutes, not a week of formatting**: Product, recipe, batch weights, allergens and company details come from the approved label. Most teams only write the method.
- **One page operators actually read**: Everything fits one A4 sheet. If it runs long, the text shrinks a little, never below 8 pt, and only then moves to page two.
- **Never out of date**: When the recipe or your company details change, FCOS flags the SOP for a revision, so the page on the floor matches the product.

## Three steps from approved label to printed SOP

1. **Check what FCOS filled in**: Product, market, ingredients with weights for your batch size, allergens and licence number. Pick the product type and any extra export markets.
2. **Write the method**: One short sentence per step. Mark a step Checked when someone measures something, or Critical when it makes the food safe, and enter the limit. FCOS writes what to do if the limit is missed.
3. **Store, check and approve**: Choose chilled, frozen or room temperature and the shelf life. Release checks are suggested for your product type. A reviewer approves, and FCOS stores the versioned PDF.

## What is on every SOP

- **Recipe for one batch**: Each ingredient's weight and percentage, scaled to your batch size.
- **Critical checks**: Critical and checked steps with the limit and the action if it is not met.
- **Allergens per market**: Allergen wording follows each market's rules, including Arabic for the Gulf.
- **Release checks**: Suggested for your product type: appearance, Brix, pH, seal, label and records.
- **Document control**: Document number, version, effective date, review date and signatures.
- **Your brand**: Logo, legal name, licence number and brand colour set once for every SOP.

## Built for audits, not just for the file

SOPs follow Codex HACCP principles and reference the regulations of each market you sell in. Approval locks the version and stores the PDF; the previous version is marked obsolete.

- Draft, under review, approved and obsolete versions
- Approval by a reviewer, never by the editor alone
- Revision flagged when the recipe or company details change
- Optional AI drafting of steps from your recipe, always edited by your team
- Market overlays for India (FSSAI), Gulf (GSO), EU, USA and Australia/NZ

### How long does it take to create a production SOP in FCOS?

About five minutes for most products. FCOS fills in the product, recipe with batch weights, allergens, market rules and company details from the approved nutrition label, so the team mainly writes the preparation steps.

### Does every SOP fit on one page?

It is designed for one A4 page. If a long method does not fit, the text shrinks slightly, never below 8 pt, and only then continues on a second page.

### Which critical control points does FCOS add?

Your team marks the steps that are critical, such as pasteurising or cooling, and enters the limit. FCOS adds the corrective action and lists every critical check in its own table. Product types suggest typical checks.

### Can I see a sample SOP?

Yes. Download the sample production SOP PDF for a chilled hummus, approved with Arabic allergen wording for the Gulf.

### Is the Production SOP module available on every plan?

Production SOPs are in beta and switched on per workspace. Start free and ask us to turn it on for your team.

## Print your first SOP this week.

Start free, then ask us to switch on Production SOPs for your workspace.

- [Start free](https://fcos.cloud/register)
- [Ask for SOP access](https://fcos.cloud/contact)

## Related

- [Features](https://fcos.cloud/features)
- [Nutrition label maker](https://fcos.cloud/features/nutrition-label-software)
- [Review & approvals](https://fcos.cloud/features/label-approval-workflow)
- [Ingredient & allergen library](https://fcos.cloud/features/ingredient-allergen-library)