We need to progress the development and writing of standard operating procedures (SOPs) /work instructions  (WIs) in brewing. The student is not expected to write all instructions but rather to facilitate the process.

We will expect the student get to know part of the brewing process and pull together the inputs/outputs of the process area, to evaluate the required instructions for this part of the process to cover all these inputs/outputs, to work with the operators to populate the instructions- capturing their knowledge and standardizing on best operating practice especially where differences occur, finally verifying that the instructions are complete and workable.

The student is expected to achieve this by working in production with the operators to get to know the process and the people. Then to use their production/practical insight and their knowledge from their studies to organize the process into defined inputs/outputs per process area. Once these are in place, map out the instructions required to cover all inputs/outputs and prioritise which are most critical. Finally working with the operators to fill in the technical details of the instructions needed and verify instructions by making sure the instructions are tested out in practice.

Two technical brewers are there to assist in the project. In addition detailed inputs/outputs have been done in other process areas to use as example. The student is not expected to write all instructions but rather to facilitate the process. Operators are not used to generating instructions but they have a depth of knowledge which needs to be accessed. Working with and supporting operators offers a good opportunity to develop management skills- motivating people and managing expectations and outputs. Besides the organizational aspect of the project, an understanding of the process at technical level is required to be able to look at the process and the instructions in a critical manner, ability to ask the right questions to draw out the technical details from the operators is also key.

Instructions are usually short documents, minimal text, use of pictures and tables, many instructions contain what we call protocols- overview sheets (in Excell) of inputs/outputs, recipes details, process parameters. The idea is to bring across information as clearly as possible and to be concise.

A process area can be selected and the work can be presented as a defined project, emphasis can be put on the technical aspect to match the student's area of interest/background and study requirements. Technical knowledge is required to understand production processes. Good written Dutch is required. The project is likely to develop technical knowledge of a particular process, insight in production, managerial skills, organizational skills, communication and written skills.