Production Shift Handover SOP Template

1.Purpose

To make sure the incoming shift starts with accurate information on production status, open equipment or quality issues, and priority orders, so nothing is lost or repeated between shifts.

2.Scope

Applies to the handover between outgoing and incoming operators and supervisors at a shift change on a production line. Starting the line itself is covered by the production line startup SOP.

Definitions

Handover log

The written or digital record used to pass shift information from the outgoing team to the incoming team.

Open issue

An equipment fault, quality hold or safety concern that was not resolved by the end of the outgoing shift.

Handover board

A visual board at the line showing current status, priorities and open issues for anyone to see at a glance.

Priority order

A production order flagged to run ahead of the normal schedule, such as a rush customer order.

3.Responsibilities

Outgoing Operator

Completes end-of-shift housekeeping, updates the production log, and walks the line with the incoming operator.

Incoming Operator

Reviews the handover log, confirms understanding of open issues, and signs the handover log.

Outgoing Shift Supervisor

Reviews shift KPIs and outstanding action items and briefs the incoming supervisor.

Incoming Shift Supervisor

Confirms priority orders for the shift and escalates unresolved issues as needed.

RACI matrix

R = Responsible, A = Accountable, C = Consulted, I = Informed

4.Materials and PPE

Materials, tools and systems

• →Shift handover log or digital handover form
• →Production log with output, scrap and downtime data
• →Handover whiteboard at the line
• →Shift KPI dashboard or report
• →Keys, tools and PPE assigned to the line

Personal protective equipment

• →Safety glasses
• →Hearing protection
• →Task-appropriate gloves

5.Procedure

1. 5.1

   Complete end-of-shift housekeeping

   Outgoing Operator

   Outgoing operator clears scrap, tidies the station, and returns tools to their assigned location before the shift ends.

2. 5.2

   Update the production log

   Outgoing Operator

   Outgoing operator records final output count, scrap quantity and any downtime with a reason code in the production log for the shift.

3. 5.3

   Walk the line together

   Incoming Operator

   Outgoing and incoming operator walk the line together at the start of the changeover, pointing out the current state of work-in-process, staged materials and any abnormal condition.

4. 5.4

   Review open equipment and quality issues

   Outgoing Operator

   Outgoing operator explains any open equipment fault, quality hold or safety concern from the shift, including what has already been reported to maintenance or quality.

   Checkpoint: Every open issue from the shift is explained to the incoming operator before the outgoing operator leaves the line.

5. 5.5

   Review the handover log line by line

   Incoming Operator

   Outgoing and incoming operator go through each item on the handover log together rather than the incoming operator reading it alone after the outgoing operator has left.

6. 5.6

   Confirm understanding and sign the log

   Incoming Operator

   Incoming operator confirms they understand the line's current status and open issues, then signs the handover log to accept the shift.

   Checkpoint: Incoming operator signs the handover log only after confirming understanding of every open item.

7. 5.7

   Review shift KPIs and outstanding actions

   Outgoing Shift Supervisor

   Outgoing shift supervisor reviews output, scrap and downtime KPIs against the shift target with the incoming supervisor, along with any open action items.

8. 5.8

   Communicate priority or rush orders

   Incoming Shift Supervisor

   Outgoing supervisor tells the incoming supervisor about any priority or rush order that needs to run ahead of the normal schedule on the next shift.

9. 5.9

   Hand over keys, tools and PPE

   Outgoing Operator

   Outgoing operator hands over any shift-specific keys, tools or PPE assigned to the line to the incoming operator.

10. 5.10

    Confirm safety incidents are reported

    Outgoing Shift Supervisor

    Outgoing supervisor confirms any safety incident or near-miss during the shift has already been reported through the site's safety reporting process, not just mentioned verbally.

11. 5.11

    Update the handover board

    Incoming Operator

    Incoming operator updates the handover whiteboard at the line with current status, so the information is visible to anyone passing, not only the two operators involved.

12. 5.12

    Escalate unresolved issues

    Incoming Shift Supervisor

    Incoming supervisor escalates any unresolved issue that needs support beyond the shift team to the next level of production or maintenance management.

6.Quality checks

• →Every handover includes a joint line walk, not a log left for the incoming operator to read alone.
• →The handover log is signed by the incoming operator before the outgoing operator leaves the site.
• →Open issues from the previous shift are tracked until resolved, not silently dropped.
• →Safety incidents are confirmed reported through the formal process, not only passed along verbally.

7.Records

• →Shift handover log
• →Production log (output, scrap, downtime)
• →Handover whiteboard photos or digital status
• →Escalated open issue log

8.KPIs

• →Percentage of handovers completed with a signed log
• →Open issues carried over more than one shift
• →Time lost at shift start due to unclear handover
• →Safety incidents reported within the shift they occurred

9.Common mistakes

• →Leaving a written log for the incoming operator instead of walking the line together.
• →Not mentioning a safety near-miss because it seemed minor.
• →Signing the handover log without actually reviewing every open item.
• →Forgetting to communicate a rush order, delaying it by a full shift.
• →Letting the same equipment issue get reported fresh every shift instead of tracking it to resolution.

10.Revision history