Larry Payne 
Craig Electric Motor & Machine 
Technical Education Committee Member 

One of the main benefits of ISO 9000 quality management system certification comes from preparing the various procedures and work instruc­tions that are required. Most compa­nies perform a thorough review of the processes and, as a result, improve them. 

Writing work instructions is one of the most time-consuming aspects of certification. These instructions need to be clear, concise, thorough and consistent with each other in their application. 

Great for training and re-training 
Properly written instructions are very useful in identifying faults and shortcomings in workshop processes. They also are useful in training new and existing employees to ensure quality and consistency in the opera­tion of the repair facility. 

The first step is to create a “Work Instruction Log” in order to keep track of the work instructions issued and revision history. 

Develop a format 
The next step is to develop a for­mat; then fill it in with the applicable work instructions. See Page 9 for an example of work instructions on “Apparatus Receiving” we developed at Craig Electric Motor & Machine. 

Be sure the “Purpose” clearly describes the importance of follow­ing the instructions and the possible consequences of failing to conform.

Under “Responsibility,” the as­signment of authorities is important so that all personnel are aware of who are the responsible parties. It should clearly identify the person who has the authority to approve deviations. 

The work instruction should be step-by-step and as specific as possible. Each step, where pos­sible, should not identify a specific apparatus, piece of test equipment, repair tool, etc., so as to allow some flexibility in the process. 

The actual operation of a particu­lar piece of service center equipment or test equipment should be left to the instruction manual or a separate work instruction. 
In this way, the replacement of a surge tester, for example, will not require a change in the applicable work instruction. 

Include safe work practices 
Make sure to include information on safe work practices and point out possible problem areas that person­nel should take into consideration while performing the operation.

Wherever possible, refer to stan­dards, charts, tables, etc., rather than include data tables. Any change in standards, acceptance criteria, etc., can be accommodated without a change in the work instruction. 

Review, make revisions 
Prior to the initial issue of the work instruction, it is good practice to have a meeting with the personnel involved to review and make necessary revisions. 

Often, the personnel on the service center floor have a different and some­times better perspective on the actual process involved. 

A complete set of work instructions should be maintained in the shop super­visor’s office, or similar central location for review at any time by service center personnel to confirm the proper process. 

Employees should be trained and qualified on any process that has a work instruction when it is relevant to their job. A good practice is to main­tain a centralized training record that identifies by individual those who have qualified with specific work instruc­tions and the date. 

For more information, be sure to review "Procedure Writing: It Takes a Little Time, But the Results are Worth It" available in the EASA Technical Manual. 

Categories: Miscellaneous, Repair procedures & tips

Tags: Procedures

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