We observed a recurring discrepancy between our shift change manual tank level logs and the automated SCADA readings. Initially, we attributed it to sensor drift or minor process variations, but digging deeper revealed a different pattern entirely. Our standard operating procedure for critical inventory transfers specifies a manual dipstick check for final verification and recording. However, for most daily shift logs, operators were primarily transcribing the SCADA values, treating the manual log as a record of the system’s reading rather than an independent cross-reference. The inherent assumption in the procedure was that the manual check was consistently performed, providing a regular physical comparison point. In practice, operators, under daily operational pressures, often relied solely on the SCADA display, leading to a slight, cumulative deviation in our inventory reconciliation that wasn’t immediately obvious. Has anyone encountered similar procedural assumptions where the documented steps are subtly bypassed in daily operations, and how did you address it?