Interesting Discussion Procedure vs. Work Instruction (WI) - What is the difference?

[eramanath]

What is the difference between procedure and work instruction?

 

[Howard Atkins]

What is the difference between procedure and work instruction?

Welcome, this thread is just for introductions.
Try here to start with
SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) vs. Policies, procedures and work instructions
and search the various forums
Good hunting

 

[Marc]

See the thread Howard linked to. Usually the procedure is a higher level document but one can argue that they are the same and that their use is semantics.

 

[Cari Spears]

...one can argue that they are the same and that their use is semantics.

I don't personally care what they're called - but because some do - I always say:

Procedures - tell you who does what when.

Work Instructions - tell you how to do something.

 

[CarolX]

You can also scroll down to the bottom of this page for links to similar threads.

 

[JRaghavendran]

Make your own definition

In few older quality system documents I have helped develop in the past we have used the discriminating criterion that procedures are documents that explain inter- departmental activities while work instructions are activity specific instruction to be carried out usually by a single associate or by a small team within one department.

With the process focus introduced with the 9K2k version, this discrimination is insignificant.

 

[vanputten]

Not sure it matters

I am not sure it matters what the difference is between a procedure and a work instruction but I use the EXACT same terminology as Cari Spears. Word for word. The only thing I add is that "Who" means title or department not actual name. "When" generally means in what sequence, not clock time.

Regards,

Dirk

 

[Cari Spears]

... "Who" means title or department not actual name. "When" generally means in what sequence, not clock time.

Exactly.

 

[Greg B]

I usually have a procedure to explain the Overall Process and Work Instructions explain the individual steps but in my 'Document Pyramid' it shows that WIs are the 'How'

 

[katschance]

I usually have a procedure to explain the Overall Process and Work Instructions explain the individual steps but in my 'Document Pyramid' it shows that WIs are the 'How'

Thy attachment is very plain and simple thank you.