Implementation of Technical Standard Operating Procedures in Teaching Factory for Developing Vocational High School Students’ Work Readiness in Accordance with Industry Standards

Abstract

The gap between vocational high school (SMK) graduates' competencies and industry demands remains a structural challenge in Indonesian vocational education. This study aims to describe the effectiveness of implementing Technical Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) within the Teaching Factory (TEFA) program at SMK Canda Bhirawa Pare in developing students' work readiness in accordance with industry standards. A mixed method approach with a Sequential Explanatory design was employed, involving 40 respondents comprising TEFA students, supervising teachers, and alumni. Data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that the implementation of TEFA technical SOPs is highly effective with both primary variables classified under the highly effective category in fostering work discipline, responsibility, procedural compliance, and the internalization of industrial work culture among students. Convergent quantitative and qualitative data confirm that technical SOPs function not merely as operational guidelines, but as a systematic instructional instrument for developing students' professional character. This study concludes that the integration of industry-standard SOPs into TEFA programs substantially bridges the competency gap between SMK graduates and industry expectations, with practical implications for the sustainable development of Teaching Factory programs in vocational education.