Systems and Controls

• Introductions
• Document integrity and control
• Regulatory requirements and good business practices
• Determining which process documents to put in place
• Documents for overall systems and specific activities
• Process documents and their relationship to other documents
• Preventing overlaps, contradictions, and disconnects

Tense and Voice in Process Documents

• Identifying the audience
• Using verbs to control action 
• Using the active voice
• Paring the passive
• Writing in the third person
• Using the imperative voice

Writing Effective Policies, Procedures, Instructions, and Methods

• Components of Standard Operating Procedures, instructions, and methods
• Controlling sequence of actions
• Choosing the correct voice
• Using the present tense
• Writing about conditions
• Avoiding ambiguity and redundancy
• Using parallel structure
• Being consistent from document to document

Procedure Writing Workshop

• Writing a procedure
• Assessing the process
• Refining it on paper

• Know your audience
• Components of quality manuals 
• Components of Chemical Hygiene and other plans 
• Identifying responsibilities 
• Explaining systems and activities 
• Controlling voice 
• Writing section by section
• Controlling sentences

Refining Style

• Precision - making every word count
• Identifying false language rules
• Participants - grammar concerns
• Language bugbears and how to avoid them
• Punctuating for clarity 
• Establishing a non-binding style guide

Reviewing and Revising

• Finalizing the document for review
• Peer review
• Formal review - author and reviewer roles
• Making sure the components are in place
• Refining the purpose and scope
• Assessing and improving the flow 
• Making comments on review documents

Remaining Compliant

• Periodic review cycles
• Building document histories
• Revisions and impact on other documents
• Setting reasonable timeframes from planning to active document
• Training on procedural documents 
• Remaining compliant