Definition
A work instruction is detailed, step-by-step guidance for performing one specific task correctly and safely: the precise sequence of actions, settings, and checks a technician follows while doing the work. It operates at a finer level of detail than a job plan, which prepares the broader scope and resources rather than the moment-by-moment execution steps.
Key facts
- Provides step-by-step "how," not the broader "what and with what resources" a job plan defines.
- Followed during actual execution of the task, at the moment the work is being performed.
- Distinct from a Standard Operating Procedure, which typically governs a standardized process across multiple situations or roles, rather than one specific maintenance task.
- Precision and clarity here directly affect consistency of outcome across different technicians performing the same task.
What information does Work instruction preserve?
A work instruction provides the precise sequence of actions a technician follows to perform a specific task (settings to check, torque values to apply, the order of disassembly steps) detailed enough that different technicians performing the same task produce a consistent result.
How do maintenance teams use Work instruction?
A job plan defines the resources and scope needed to prepare a recurring job. A work instruction is the detailed execution guidance for one specific task within that job. A Standard Operating Procedure is broader still, typically standardizing a process across multiple situations or roles rather than detailing one maintenance task's specific steps.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How is a specific activity carried out step by step?
Through a work instruction: detailed, step-by-step guidance for one specific task, followed during execution, more granular than the broader scope and resources a job plan defines in advance.
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