A three-step synthesis strategy for the automatic synthesis of operating procedures in batch process operations is presented in this paper. The first step is pre-operation which consists of a set of checks that must be considered before starting the basic process operation. The second step is operation which is described by a set of basic control instructions. The third step is post-operation described by a set of instructions that must be carried out when the basic process operation is terminated. The three-step synthesis method has been implemented as part of a prototype recipe management system.