Work instruction
A work instruction is a step-by-step guide that explains how to complete a single task within a larger process, so the task is done the same way every time regardless of who does it.
It’s often confused with a procedure, but ISO draws a clear line between them: a procedure covers an entire process end to end, while a work instruction zooms into one basic step of it – the difference between “how we handle a customer complaint” and “how to log a complaint in the system.”
Format matters more here than in most documentation. Visual work instructions – images or short video instead of blocks of text – are produced about 70% faster than written ones, easier to update, and better retained, since reading is one of the least effective ways to transfer knowledge according to the National Training Laboratories. Despite that, fewer than 30% of manufacturers have actually adopted visual instructions.
See a 7-step writing framework, 5+ real examples, and free templates.