A work instruction is a controlled document that tells one person how to do one task, step by step, at the place where the work happens. Each step says what to do, how to do it right, and often why, with the tools, settings, specifications, checks and safety warnings that apply. It sits under a procedure or SOP, which describes a wider process and who is responsible. A work instruction has a document number, a revision and an approval, and operators are trained on the current revision.
Example: A torque-down work instruction lists the wrench and its calibration ID, then the steps: run all six bolts snug in a star pattern, torque them to 25 N·m in the same pattern, mark each bolt with paint, and record the wrench ID on the traveler.
When a step is vague or missing, each operator fills the gap differently, and the result shows up as variation, rework and NCRs. Auditors also check that operators can find the instruction, that it is the current revision, and that the work matches it.
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