Shift Handover SOP
Manufacturing | SOP

Use this when: Problems get lost between shifts, and each new shift starts by asking what happened.

Owner: [shift supervisor]

Before the end of the shift:
1. Record output against plan for each line.
2. List downtime: what, when, how long, and the status.
3. Note quality holds, with batch or lot numbers.
4. Note safety issues and near misses.
5. List maintenance requests and open work.
6. Note material shortages and anything waiting on someone.

At handover, face to face at the line:
7. Walk through the top three priorities for the next shift.
8. Show any machine or product on hold, and confirm it's clearly tagged.
9. Both supervisors sign the log.

Afterward:
10. The manager reviews logs daily and acts on repeat issues.

Before you use this: Safety lockouts and quality holds must follow your own procedures and workplace safety rules.

Fill in the items in square brackets and adapt this to your business.
Free template from SAZ: https://playbooks.saz.ca/p/manufacturing-sop