# 006 Difference between a "Procedure" and "Work Instruction"

There was a discussion recently in the LinkedIn on the difference between a "Procedure" and "Work Instruction." I thought it is worth reproducing my response as a separate blog too.

There need be, really speaking,  no difference !!

As per ISO 9000 a "Procedure is defined as "a specified way of carrying out an activity". Applying this definition, WI also is a "procedure" since it describes the way in which a particular task is to be carried out - just as a "record"  is also  a "document", looking at it from the pure definition of a document.

However it has become a practice to call the functional level document as a "procedure" which details the what, how of a function say Procedure for Purchasing function (or more correctly Process). And the document giving details of sub processes or activities within a given function a WI. For ex."Raising of a Purchase Order" which is just a part of or a sub process of overall "Purchasing" function. That is to say a Procedure describes a higher level activities and WI, a lower level activity within a given function.

Basically there are normally 3 levels in an organisation viz Strategic or top management level, Functional and operational. Top level documents like Vision, Mission, Core Values, Policies, Objectives etc are called Apex level documents more popularly known as Manual. Next level is different functions such, Design, Marketing, Production, Purchase, HR, Maintenance etc. which are clubbed under Procedures or Procedure Manual. Last level is at specific task/operations like welding, soldering, teaching, code writing etc. The documents used to describe these activities are called WI. It is to be noted that WI is extensively used in manufacturing sector and not in service sectors.

It may be of interest to note that there is no mention of WI in ISO 9001 Standard and there is no hard and fast rule that one should be called a Procedure and the other WI. There is no water tight compartment between the two.