A work instruction is a controlled document that describes how to perform a specific task or operation in enough detail for an operator to execute it safely, correctly, and consistently. It sits below standard operating procedures and appears at workstations as step-by-step guides, often with images, tool lists, quality checks, safety notes, and reference to part numbers or traceability codes.
In translation and localization, work instructions are among the most frequently translated shop-floor documents. They appear in operator training, electronic work instruction systems, assembly stations, and audit packages. Translators must preserve step numbering, imperative tone, and references to part numbers, tools, or quality checks; a single unclear step can cause assembly errors or safety incidents on the line.
A common error is translating work instruction as a generic 'manual' or 'guide,' losing its function as a controlled, step-level document. Another is changing imperative steps into passive descriptions, which weakens operator compliance. If terminology or step phrasing is inconsistent with the related standard operating procedure, auditors and operators may not recognize the document hierarchy.
The EU Machinery Directive requires documentation in the language of the destination market. Safety-related terms must map exactly to the wording of the governing standard.
Angel Translation locks terms like this into a project terminology base before expert review begins, so the same source term resolves to the same target term across every document in a submission — and stays consistent in the next revision. See the 8-step AI + expert workflow.
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