LEEEEROY JENKINS!!” Should Be a Meme, Not Your SOP

One reckless charge can doom the mission. Don't let your quality system suffer from a 'Leroy Jenkins' moment.

First, Who the Heck is “Leroy Jenkins”?

In 2005, a World of Warcraft player named Leroy Jenkins became an internet legend.

His guildmates spent 20 minutes meticulously planning a raid—assigning roles, strategizing, and preparing to execute flawlessly.

Then Leroy, absent for the planning, suddenly screamed “LEEEEROOOY JENKINS!!” and charged in alone.

Chaos ensues.

Everyone dies.

The lesson? Even one person ignoring the process can obliterate teamwork, waste resources, and turn order into disaster.

Sound familiar, corporate America?

Your Workplace Has a Leroy Jenkins (And It’s Costing You Millions)

Picture this: Your quality team spends weeks documenting processes, aligning with ISO 9001 standards, and preparing for an audit.

Then Gary from Shipping—your department’s Leroy—decides to “wing it” and:

• Ships 500 units without inspection (“They looked fine!“)

• Skips documenting supplier certifications (“I told them verbally!”)

• Redesigns the packaging on a whim (“Customers love glitter!”)

Cue the chaos:

• Product recalls.

• Angry customers.

• Audit failures.

Gary’s “LEEEEROY” moment just cost you $2 million.

ISO 9001: The Antidote to Leroy Jenkins Syndrome

ISO 9001 is basically the raid leader your company desperately needs. Let’s break down how it prevents Leroy-style disasters:

1. Clause 4.4: Quality Management System

The Problem: Leroys thrive in workplaces where “everyone just does their own thing.”

The Fix: ISO 9001 forces you to document processes so even Gary knows:

• When to inspect shipments

• How to communicate with suppliers

• Why glitter belongs in crafts, not medical device packaging

2. Clause 8.1: Operational Planning and Control

The Leroy Move: “Planning? I’ll just YOLO this production run!”

The ISO Solution: Pre-control charts, risk assessments, and documented workflows ensure Gary can’t improvise a glitter bomb into your sterile packaging line.

3. Clause 9.2: Internal Audits

The Horror: Leroy’s undocumented “cost-saving” supplier switch leads to a recall.

The ISO Win: Regular audits catch Gary’s “creative procurement” before it nukes your compliance.

Real-World Examples of Leroy Jenkins vs. ISO 9001

The Cookie Catastrophe

Leroy Move: A bakery supervisor ignores ISO 9001 allergen protocols because “nobody’s that allergic to peanuts.”

Result: A class-action lawsuit and rebrand to “Oopsie-Daisy Bakery (Now Gluten-Free!)”

The ISO 9001 Save

A medical device manufacturer using Cornerstone Engineering’s 25 page ISO plan catches a Leroy-esque engineer trying to skip biocompatibility testing. The pre-audit gap analysis saves them from an FDA shutdown.

How to Leroy-Proof Your Company

I, Debra Matthews Hampton at Cornerstone Engineering, the Gandalf to your Middle-earth operation, offer these ISO 9001 solutions:

1. Globally Recognized 25 page or less ISO 9001 plans – Because “LEEEEROY” should be a meme, not your SOP.

2. Gap Analysis – Find your Leroys before they charge into the supplier portal.

3. Internal Auditor Training – Turn your team into Leroy-whisperers who spot chaos risks early.

Conclusion: Don’t Let Your Company Be a Meme

Leroy Jenkins’ legacy teaches us that one impulsive act can destroy years of planning.

ISO 9001 ensures your company’s story stays off Reddit/ISO Fails and on the path to:

• Consistent quality (no glitter surprises)

• Audit-ready processes (bye-bye panic drills)

• Customer trust (because nobody trusts a Leroy)

Visit www.ce-q.com today—because the only “LEEEEROY” moment your business needs is the victory cry after passing its ISO audit.

Disclaimer: No Garys or Leroys were harmed in the making of this blog post. ISO 9001-certified Gary’s may now return to Shipping.