Expert in Work Instruction: Granular Steps, Safety and Parameters

Why You Need a Good Work Instruction

To be honest, when I first came across this skill, my initial reaction was, "Isn't this just a tool for writing SOPs?" But after reading the introduction carefully, I realized it's a completely different beast from an SOP. An SOP is process-level; it tells you "do this first, then that." A WI, on the other hand, is task-level; it tells you "exactly which wrench to use for which bolt and how many turns to give it."

I once interned at a machining plant, and the work instructions posted on the shop floor were, frankly, a mess. They just said things like "install the fixture and tighten the bolts," but what torque should you use? Should you apply thread-locking compound? What's the tightening sequence? None of that was specified. As a result, new operators just winged it, and the reject rate stayed stubbornly high. Later, when the veteran machinist retired, almost no one could do that job to standard.

This skill is designed to solve exactly that problem. It breaks a task down to "atomic-level" steps and forces the inclusion of images, parameters, and safety warnings. Using it is like having a senior process engineer help you write out the operating procedures in crystal-clear detail.

What This Skill Can Actually Do

Let's look at its official positioning: "Especialista em Instrução de Trabalho," which translates to "Work Instruction Specialist." Its core use case is: when you need to detail a specific task to the point where you can train a newcomer with it, this is the tool to use.

For example, if you need to write a WI for "changing the tool on a CNC machine," it won't just say "remove the old tool, install the new one." Instead, it breaks it down like this:

• Prepare tools: Hex key (5mm), torque wrench (set to 20 N·m), clean cloth
• Step 1: Press the emergency stop button and confirm the spindle has come to a complete stop (safety-critical step)
• Step 2: Clean the tool holder taper with the cloth and inspect for any damage
• Step 3: Use the hex key to loosen the retention knob counter-clockwise, being careful not to fully unscrew it
• Step 4: Remove the old tool, insert the new one, paying attention to the tool holder orientation
• Step 5: Use the torque wrench to tighten clockwise to 20 N·m; you'll hear a "click" when it's set
• Step 6: Rotate the spindle by hand to confirm there is no interference (quality-critical step)

See what I mean? Every step has specific parameters, and there are notes at critical points. That's the difference between a WI and a generic SOP.

Installation Steps and My Experience

This skill is hosted on GitHub, in a repository called ai-skills-for-claude-code by euwebertdefreitas. Installation is a breeze—just one command:

npx skills add https://github.com/euwebertdefreitas/ai-skills-for-claude-code.git --skill especialista-em-instrucao-de-trabalho

Once you run that, it automatically installs the skill for you. Then you can use it directly in any environment that supports Claude Code.

I actually gave it a try, and I found its workflow to be quite well-designed. First, there's a clarification phase, where it proactively asks you about the task's objective, the current equipment status, and any constraints. Then comes assessment, where it evaluates any existing materials you provide. Next is design, where it proposes a plan and explains the pros and cons of that approach. Finally, there's execution and validation, where it generates the WI and checks whether someone with no prior training could follow it successfully.

Oh, and one more thing: it also reads a reference.md file in the same directory, which contains some deeper concepts and checklists. However, this file is only loaded when deep-diving is needed, so it doesn't bog you down in day-to-day use.

Things to Keep in Mind

There are a few pitfalls I should warn you about. First, the skill explicitly states that you shouldn't use it to write SOPs or product documentation. Its job is strictly "task-level" work—the more specific, the better. If you try to use it for a process, it'll just complain that your granularity isn't fine enough.

Second, it places a strong emphasis on including images. For manual tasks, if there's no visual reference, relying on text alone can easily lead to errors. So when you use it, it's best to have relevant screenshots or photos ready so it can help you incorporate them into the WI layout.

Third, safety-critical steps must be clearly written out. The skill will proactively flag which steps are safety-related, such as "must disconnect power before operation" or "safety goggles must be worn." Don't get rid of them just because they seem like a hassle—you'll regret it if something goes wrong.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this skill is an absolute game-changer for people in the manufacturing and maintenance industries. Before, writing a work instruction might take you an entire day of agonizing. Now, you just describe the task clearly, and within minutes it generates a solid draft that you can polish up and use.

And since it's open-source, you can easily integrate it into your own AI workflow. If you've been struggling with how to codify the knowledge of your veteran workers, this skill is worth a shot. I think it can at least help you solve the "how to write" problem. As for "whether it's well-written," that still depends on your own practice and refinement.

Alright, that's all for today's share. I'm off to write a work instruction for changing the oil on my old car—might as well put this skill to the test and see if it's really as reliable as it claims.