Start a work instruction
How operators start and follow a work instruction in execution mode — navigating steps, the active node highlight, QC checks, and completing the flow.
Before you start
How to start a work instruction
1 minute
Click the Start Work Instructions button — the green button in the action bar at the bottom of the Work Instruction Details page. It is available on both the Info tab and the Step Flow tab.
You can also reach execution mode from a Work Order's Operations tab (if the work instruction is linked to a work order), and from the Share link generated in the StepFlow editor. The Share link opens execution mode directly — useful for sending to operators via Slack or email.
If the work instruction has no steps in its StepFlow, execution mode will open but there will be nothing to follow. Make sure the StepFlow has at least a Start, one Default step and an End node before distributing to operators. See Create & edit steps if the flow hasn't been built yet.
Section 01
Execution mode layout
2 minutes
Execution mode has the same three-panel layout as the StepFlow editor, but with three key differences:
| Feature | Editor mode | Execution mode |
|---|---|---|
| Top bar | Formatting toolbar (bold, italic, lists…) | Info bar — Works Order, Product, Work Instructions, Version, Share |
| Right panel | Editable — Node Name field + rich text editor | Read-only — step heading + content display |
| Footer | Go Back + Save Changes | Go Back + Previous Step + Next Step |
| Active node highlight | Standard node type colours (blue borders) | Green border on whichever node is currently being viewed |
| Sidebar | 4 icons: BOM, Steps, Report, Print | 5 icons: BOM, Steps, QC, Report, Print — QC is new in execution mode |
| Bottom of canvas | Start Node / Default Node / End Node buttons | No node-type buttons — read-only canvas |
Section 02
Info bar
1 minute
The blue bar across the top replaces the formatting toolbar. It shows context about the current work instruction session so operators always know what they are working on.
| Field | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Works Order | The work order this instruction is linked to. Shows N/A when the instruction is being followed standalone. When started from a works order, the works order number appears here. |
| Product | The linked item set in Step 1 of the creation wizard — e.g. "M8 Mounting Bracket — Frame A". Blank if no item was linked. |
| Work Instructions | The name of the work instruction being followed — e.g. "CNC Machining — Bracket A". |
| Version | The version of the work instruction being followed — e.g. "1V". Operators always follow the version that was current when they clicked Start. If a new version was created after they started, they will not be automatically moved to it. |
| ▶ Share | Generates a shareable URL to this work instruction's execution mode. Send it to another operator via Slack, email or QR code. The recipient opens directly into execution mode at the Start node. |
Section 03
Canvas & active node highlight
2 minutes
The left panel shows the full flow diagram. As the operator navigates through the steps, the canvas updates to show exactly which node they are on by giving it a green border. All other nodes retain their standard blue border.
The three examples below show the green highlight moving through the flow:
The green border always follows the current node regardless of the node's type — Start, Default and End nodes all use green when active. The canvas can be zoomed and panned freely during execution without affecting step navigation.
Section 04
Step content panel
1 minute
The right panel is the main reading area for operators. It shows the content of whichever node is currently active on the canvas.
| Element | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Node name (heading) | The step's name as set in the StepFlow editor — e.g. "Start", "Torque bracket bolt to 45 Nm", "QC visual check", "End". Displayed as a large heading at the top of the panel. |
| Content body | The full rich text instructions written for this step in the editor. This can include formatted text, bullet lists, headings, images and downloadable file attachments. Operators read and follow these instructions before clicking Next Step. |
| Read-only | Operators cannot edit the content in execution mode. If a step's instructions need updating, return to the Work Instruction Details page and use Edit Work Instructions or Edit Stepflow. |
The footer bar at the bottom of the screen controls step navigation. Three controls appear here:
| Control | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Go Back | Returns to the Work Instruction Details page. The operator's position is not saved — if they click Start again, they will begin at the Start node. |
| ← Previous Step | Moves back one node in the flow. Greyed out on the Start node (no previous step). Becomes active on all subsequent nodes. |
| Next Step → | Advances to the next node in the flow. Greyed out on the End node (no next step — flow is complete). Becomes active on all nodes before End. |
If the flow has branches (multiple nodes connected from one source), the operator can follow any available path. The canvas shows all the connections and the operator chooses which branch to take using Next Step.
Section 06
Sidebar panels
2 minutes
Execution mode has five sidebar buttons — one more than the editor. The new addition is QC, which is only available in execution mode. All five are available on every step throughout the flow.
| Icon | Panel | What it does in execution mode |
|---|---|---|
| BOM | BOM Items modal | Shows the full Bill of Materials for this work instruction — component IDs, quantities and status. Operators reference this to pick the correct parts before starting or during a step. |
| Steps | Step list panel | Lists all nodes in the flow in order. Operators can jump to any step directly — useful for reviewing what's coming up or returning to a specific step without tapping Previous Step repeatedly. |
| QC | Quality Control panel | New in execution mode — not available in the editor. Opens a quality check form for the current step. Operators record measurements, pass/fail checks and inspection notes directly against this step. QC records are stored against the work instruction run and can be reviewed in the Quality module. |
| Report | Issue reporting form | Raises an issue against this work instruction — e.g. a missing component, a damaged part or an unclear instruction. The issue is logged in the Issues module and can be assigned for resolution. |
| Printable step document | Generates a printable version of the full work instruction — all steps and their content. Useful for keeping a paper record alongside the digital execution. |
QC panel detail
The QC panel lets operators record quality evidence for each step without leaving the flow.
Quality Check — Torque Bracket Bolt
Record QC data for this step
Section 07
Completing the work instruction
1 minute
When the operator reaches the End node, the Next Step button becomes greyed out — there are no more steps to follow. The flow is considered complete. The End node's content typically contains sign-off instructions, a reminder to photograph the finished product, or a QR code scan prompt.
After completing the flow, click Go Back to return to the Work Instruction Details page. If the instruction was started from a Work Order, return to the Work Order and mark the relevant operation as complete.
Execution mode does not save progress between sessions. If an operator closes the browser or clicks Go Back mid-way through, they will restart at the Start node next time they open the instruction. For long multi-step instructions, operators should complete the full flow in one session or use the Steps sidebar to quickly jump back to where they left off.