Operations and planning
Writing a work instruction with AI
A work instruction for the shop floor: short, visual and safe. AI helps you write it; the experienced colleague signs it off.
5 min read
A work instruction says exactly how a task is done on the shop floor: setting up a machine, preparing an order, handing over an installation. Good work instructions prevent mistakes and speed up onboarding. AI helps you write them. The know-how comes from your experienced colleagues.
What makes a work instruction different
A procedure often describes an administrative process. A work instruction is about a concrete action on the floor. It must:
- Be easy to follow at a glance, even wearing gloves or holding a phone.
- State safety explicitly.
- Use photos or simple drawings.
How to go about it
- Have the experienced colleague show and explain it. Record a voice memo or jot down keywords. Take a photo of each step.
- Have AI turn it into short steps. One action per step, ten steps maximum.
- Let AI ask questions about anything that seems unclear or incomplete.
- Have the experienced colleague review and approve it.
- Test it with someone who doesn't know the task.
Safety
Let the AI flag safety points, but don't rely on it blindly. Safety rules, protective equipment and legal requirements come from your health and safety adviser or the manufacturer, not from an AI.
Checklist
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Prompt to copy
Turn the explanation below into a work instruction for the shop floor. No more than ten steps, one action per step, short sentences. Start with: equipment and protective gear. At each step, mark anything that looks safety-critical with [SAFETY]. Put [PHOTO] where an image would help. Then ask questions about anything unclear. Don't invent any safety rules.
[paste the explanation]
