A process checklist answers one question per line: did this happen, yes or no? It doesn't explain how to do the step (that's a work instruction's job) — it exists so nobody skips step 6 when they're in a hurry. The best checklists are short enough to actually get used; a 40-item checklist gets skimmed, not followed. Pair a Guidyy step-by-step guide (the how) with a short checklist (the confirmation) for anything that has real failure cost if a step gets missed.
Glossary
What is a Process Checklist?
A process checklist is a linear list of steps to confirm before, during, or after a task — built to catch omissions, not to explain technique.
01
Checklist vs work instruction
A work instruction teaches how. A checklist confirms that. Aviation and surgery both use short checklists precisely because they're a last line of defense against a rushed expert skipping something obvious.
02
Keeping a checklist from becoming theater
If people check boxes without doing the step, the checklist is decoration. Keep it under 10 items, put it where the work actually happens, and revisit it after any incident traced back to a missed step.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long should a process checklist be?+
Under 10 items for anything done under time pressure. If you need more than that, split it into phases (pre-task, during, post-task) instead of one long list.
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