According to 4.2b of GB/T 1.1-2020 "Directives for Standardization - Part 1: Structure and Drafting Rules for Standardization Documents", a procedure standard refers to "a standard that specifies a clear procedure for the process of an activity and describes the tracing/verification methods used to determine whether the procedure has been carried out". The processes therein include, but are not limited to, design, manufacturing/operation, installation, use or management; application, assessment or inspection, etc.

The functions of a procedure standard are to "establish" procedures and "specify" procedural instructions. Its core technical elements are to "establish procedures" for the process of an activity, specify a series of "procedural instructions" for carrying out the procedures, and describe the "tracing/verification methods".

The main difference between a procedure standard and a specification standard is that a procedure standard mainly specifies the behavioral instructions for the implementation process, while a specification standard stipulates the technical requirements for the standardized object. The main difference between a procedure standard and a test standard is that implementing the procedural instructions specified in a procedure standard does not produce any test results, whereas implementing the test procedures described in a test standard will definitely produce test results.

For the overall principles and requirements for drafting procedure standards, the structure of procedure standards, and the writing and expression rules for essential elements such as the standard title, scope, procedure establishment, procedural instructions, and tracing/verification methods, please refer to GB/T 20001.6-2017 "Rules for Preparing Standards - Part 6: Procedure Standards".