Work instructions
Also called shop floor instructions, build instructions
Work instructions are the step-by-step directions an operator follows to build or inspect a product at a station, with visuals, parts, tools and checks. Done well, they're generated from the process plan, not written separately.
The failure we see most: work instructions maintained in a separate tool, updated by hand, and a revision behind the design. The operator builds exactly what the paper says, and it’s wrong.
When instructions come from the process plan in PLM and flow to MES, a released change updates what the operator sees.
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Last reviewed November 2026 by Element Consulting
