Author Archives: Tim James "Mr. Procedure"

Developing customer manuals–my new career stop–is a new experience for me, but in reality it is no different than what I did for so many years in the advanced materials world. I wrote operating procedures for processing equipment my organizations … Continue reading →

I have been terribly negligent in maintaining this blog. But now that I am linking with LinkedIn, and a frequent visitor to the “Technical Writer in Action” group, I shall endeavor to make more frequent stops. Thank you for your … Continue reading →

OK, I go to Hawaii for two weeks in July, and immediately after I began my new paying gig, which entails developing manuals for very sophisticated industrial equipment (I am bound by an NDA so I’ll play it safe and … Continue reading →

Why does (or should) an operating procedure exist? The one and only reason I have identified is to facilitate learning of an activity. Consider the following scenario: Joe is a new worker, and he is paired with Sheila, an experienced … Continue reading →

The emphasis on a procedure should be how an activity is performed. Period. This assertion is based on years of procedure-writing experience and wrestling with why a procedure exists and what an organization desires to gain from a procedure. In over … Continue reading →

In the last post, I presented the following “procedure:”  1. The receiving department receives the raw materials, checks for accuracy and then places the materials on shelves to be available for production. 2. The production clerk receives the work order, … Continue reading →

2. Operating Procedures I have laid out what would pass for a “procedure” in many organizations. Take a look at it and decide, “does it function as a procedure?” 1. The receiving department receives the raw materials, checks for accuracy … Continue reading →

Policies: 1st level of documents In the documentation pyramid (as I drew it; see the link in the last post), policies are the foundation–the bottom layer. Policies are commonly referred to as “Tier 1” documents (though such terminology does not … Continue reading →

I would not have acquired the nickname “Mr. Procedure” if I did not have some passion for the art of procedure writing. In many quarters, procedure writing is something to be put off, avoided, or directed to the new guy … Continue reading →

Now we consider the third element that defines the total capability required for a position: 3. Knowledge Knowledge is a broad category that includes any supporting information a person needs to enhance the effectiveness (productivity, quality or safety of the task … Continue reading →