Work Instructions are documents that clearly and precisely describe the correct way to perform certain tasks that may cause inconvenience or damage if not done in the established manner. These instructions are helpful in providing detailed specification tasks which are referenced in the procedure. They aid in trainings management and reduce mistakes because of step wise instruction process required to accomplish something missed from recorded procedures. This is where work instruction management is required.
A work instruction will often repeat many of the elements of a procedure to help describe where it fits into the process like
Purpose
Definitions
Responsibility
Requirements
Tools and information
But in depth, a work instruction consists of step wise detail, that is sometimes not in advantage to put in procedures because it requires a limited scope. There is no mandate from regulatory bodies to create work instructions. However, the experience of QMS documentation has shown that syncing these in the documentation hierarchy can have greater effects for your QMS.
Work Instructions Inclusions
All good work instructions should include:
The goal or expected results of the process or procedure
The person or persons responsible for completing the task
The materials, equipment, and skill set needed
Detailed, visual, or multi-media reference material that helps workers understand exactly what to do
Safety and compliance concerns that are outlined and clearly visible
Benefits of Online Work Instruction Management
Recording instructions digitally comes with its set of benefits:
Easily accessible and centralised
Easily revised and updated
Include detailed visuals, video, and 3D models
Allow for easy translation into multiple languages
Integrate easily into already established systems
Help quickly train and upskill workers
Capture valuable tribal knowledge
Allow communication between teams, departments, or facilities
Assign tasks and track progress
Capture real-time performance data
Create checklists for any activity
Aids in compliance and regulatory standards
Can be used on multiple platforms, including computers and mobile devices
