Work instructions

Communicate with complete clarity

Work instruction documents are a critical link between engineering and manufacturing. With content coming from multiple sources — including CAD, PLM, ERP, and ECM applications — it's much more efficient to keep everything in electronic format. Using Adobe solutions, you can integrate all the necessary information for work instructions into a single electronic package using an open standard, PDF, so that anyone can view and interact with the information using free Adobe® Reader® software. With Adobe solutions, you can:

Increase operational efficiency

Leverage engineering and manufacturing information already available in your enterprise systems for the automated generation of work instructions, and generate the instructions earlier in the process to better meet launch schedules. You can also improve the flow of information between engineering and production by transforming paper-based processes into automated electronic workflows.

Facilitate faster decision making through business intelligence

Use interactive PDFs and rich Internet applications (RIAs) to access business intelligence through dashboards displaying ongoing metric data, making it easier to identify trouble spots, incorporate shop-floor feedback into PLM and ERP workflows, and optimize your overall manufacturing processes.

Improve quality and safety

Deliver and manage work instructions electronically to optimize repeatable processes and convey critical safety information. This also enhances cross-organizational communication because operators can directly contribute feedback on work instructions.

Reduce scrap and rework

Deliver more detailed and accurate information, including interactive and precision 3D data, to the factory floor, helping reduce errors and increase operator effectiveness. Help shop-floor workers adapt quickly to manufacturing process changes.

Accelerate training

Capture valuable practices and feedback from experienced workers so you can preserve irreplaceable knowledge and get new employees up to speed faster.

Protect and control sensitive information anywhere it gets distributed

Incorporate digital rights management (DRM) to help maintain information security and version control of sensitive documents, even after distribution. Use Adobe solutions to dynamically control who can open, edit, print, copy, or forward your PDF documents. These controls remain with the document wherever it goes — online, offline, and even outside the firewall. Learn more about Adobe solutions for digital rights management.

Solution benefits

Increase operational efficiency by automating the creation, control, feedback process, and management of the work instruction lifecycle.
Simplify user adoption of automated processes by replicating the look and feel of the paper-based processes they are replacing.
Accelerate and improve product rollouts by automatically linking design centers with worldwide manufacturing operations.
Improve long-term archiving, compliance, and auditability by replacing or supplementing paper with electronic documents.
Increase operator effectiveness and reduce errors by preserving detailed knowledge from experienced workers and delivering better information, including 3D documents, to the factory floor.