What will you find here?

This blog is for the engineer or technician who creates instructions for manufacturing or field service. They are also known as work instructions, standard work, standard operating procedures (SOP), assembly instructions, and probably a few more depending on your industry.

I will write about the practical applications of seven principles that are the foundation for creating great work instructions. Most engineers and technicians are not educated or experienced with technical writing, visual design, and digital asset management but they are expected to write great instructions. I was one of these accidental technical writers for a medical device manufacturer. My headache-inducing frustrations during the work instruction creation process and the endless and contradictory reviews drove me to learn the right amount of technical writing, visual design, and digital asset management to minimize those headaches.

Here are the 7 Principles that you will read throughout these blogs.

1. Navigating the Digital Landscape
   

2. Engaging the Subject Matter Expert (SME)
   

3. Finding the Right Sequence
   

4. Creating Good Document Design
   

5. Working with Visual Components
   

6. Using Just Enough Technical Writing
   

7. Finalizing the Instruction
   

I hope these principles help you create better work instructions for your users and decrease your headaches.

Scott Ferguson

Founder

Real Work IQ