SOPs & Process Documentation

What Is a Work Instruction?

A work instruction is a detailed document that describes exactly how to perform a specific task within a process.

A work instruction is a detailed document that describes exactly how to perform a specific task within a process. Work instructions are more granular than SOPs — where an SOP describes the whole procedure, a work instruction focuses on a single task and the precise way to complete it.

Work instructions are where screenshots and numbered steps matter most, because they tell someone exactly what to click and in what order. Read SOPs vs. work instructions for a full comparison.

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Frequently asked questions

How detailed should a work instruction be?
Detailed enough that someone unfamiliar with the task can complete it correctly — typically one action per step, with a screenshot wherever the interface is involved.

Related terms

SOP (Standard Operating Procedure)
An SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) is a detailed, written instruction document that describes how to perform a routine activity.
Step-by-Step Guide
A step-by-step guide is a document that breaks a process or task into sequential, numbered steps.
Process Documentation
Process documentation is a written record that describes how a business process works from start to finish.
Checklist
A checklist is a list of items or tasks that need to be completed or verified.

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Turn your processes into clear, professional step-by-step guides. Folge automatically captures your workflow and exports to PDF, Word, HTML, and more.

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