Templates & checklists
Free Manufacturing Templates and Checklists for the Shop Floor
13 free manufacturing templates: work instructions, SOP, LOTO, SMED, PM, 5S, line clearance and skills matrix. Use them online or copy them into your own system.
In short
These free manufacturing templates cover the documents every plant needs: work instructions, SOPs, preventive maintenance, LOTO, SMED changeovers, line clearance, quality inspection, 5S, pre-shift checks, skills matrix, onboarding and knowledge transfer. Each page shows the complete template, how to fill it in and an example. Actarion turns them into digital, AR-guided instructions with an audit trail.
- TemplateTemplate
Work Instruction Template: Free, Complete and With an Example
Word and PDF template with example steps and safety checks.
Digital work instructionsupdated 3 Nov - TemplateWord + PDF
SOP Template for Manufacturing: Free and Audit-Ready
An SOP template (standard operating procedure template) is a controlled format that defines a process: its purpose, scope, responsibilities, procedure steps, records and revision history. This free SOP template follows common ISO 9001 and GMP practice. Use it to standardize processes, then let Actarion turn the procedure into AR-guided digital work instructions.
Digital work instructionsupdated 3 Nov - TemplateExcel + PDF
Preventive Maintenance Checklist: Free Template for Machines
A preventive maintenance checklist lists the inspections, lubrication, adjustments and replacements that keep an asset running, grouped by frequency, with limits and sign-off. This free preventive maintenance checklist covers daily to annual tasks for machines with motors, drives, hydraulics and pneumatics. Actarion turns it into AR-guided PM tasks with an automatic record.
Maintenance and operationsupdated 3 Nov - TemplateExcel
Skills Matrix Template: See Who Can Do What on Every Shift
A skills matrix is a grid that shows, per employee, which tasks they can perform and at what level. This free skills matrix template uses a 0–4 scale, a target per task and a gap row, so team leaders can plan shifts and training. Actarion keeps the skills matrix current automatically from completed AR-guided work instructions.
Training and knowledge retentionupdated 3 Nov - TemplateExcel + PDF
SMED Checklist: Free Changeover Template for Faster Setups
A SMED checklist makes sure everything needed for a changeover is ready before the machine stops, and that each changeover follows the same sequence. SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Die) separates internal work, done while the machine is stopped, from external work, done while it runs. This free SMED checklist covers both, plus an analysis sheet.
Maintenance and operationsupdated 3 Nov - TemplateWord + Excel
Operator Onboarding Checklist: Free 90-Day Plan for Production
An operator onboarding checklist is a structured plan that takes a new production employee from day one to working independently. This free template covers pre-arrival, the first day, the first week and a 30-60-90 day plan with task sign-offs and reviews. Actarion shortens onboarding with AR-guided work instructions at the machine.
Training and knowledge retentionupdated 3 Nov - TemplateExcel
Maintenance Schedule Template: Plan Every PM Task for the Year
A maintenance schedule template is a planning sheet that lists every asset, its preventive maintenance tasks, their frequency and when each task is due over the year. This free maintenance schedule template contains an asset register, a task plan and a 52-week overview with status tracking. Actarion links each planned task to an AR-guided checklist that logs completion.
Maintenance and operationsupdated 3 Nov - TemplateWord + PDF
Lockout Tagout Procedure Template: Machine-Specific and OSHA-Aligned
A lockout tagout procedure is a machine-specific document that tells authorized employees how to shut down, isolate, lock, release stored energy and verify zero energy before service or maintenance. This free lockout tagout procedure template follows the structure of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 and common EU practice (EN ISO 14118). Actarion guides each LOTO step with AR and logs it.
Maintenance and operationsupdated 3 Nov - TemplatePDF
Line Clearance Checklist: Free GMP Template for Batch Changes
A line clearance checklist confirms that a production or packaging line is free of materials, labels, product and documents from the previous batch before the next batch starts. Line clearance prevents mix-ups, one of the main causes of recalls in pharma and food. This free line clearance checklist covers removal, cleaning, line-specific checks and independent QA verification.
Digital work instructionsupdated 3 Nov - TemplateExcel + PDF
Quality Inspection Checklist: Free Template for Manufacturing
A quality inspection checklist defines which characteristics are checked, against which specification, with which gauge, how often and what happens when a part fails. This free quality inspection checklist covers first-article, in-process and final inspection with OK/NOK and reaction plan. Actarion turns it into AR-guided inspections that record every measured value.
Digital work instructionsupdated 3 Nov - TemplateExcel + PDF
5S Audit Checklist: Free Template With Scoring per Area
A 5S audit checklist scores how well a work area applies the five S's: Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize and Sustain. This free 5S audit checklist contains 25 questions with a 0–4 score, a total out of 100 and an action list. Use it monthly per area. Actarion turns it into a guided digital audit with photos and trends.
5S audit checklistupdated 3 Nov - TemplatePDF
Pre-Start Checklist: Free Template for Every Shift and Machine
A pre-start checklist is a short check an operator completes before starting a machine or line at the beginning of a shift. It confirms that guards and emergency stops work, the machine is in good condition, utilities and materials are ready and the previous shift's issues are known. Actarion makes it a guided digital check.
Maintenance and operationsupdated 3 Nov - TemplateWord
Knowledge Transfer Plan: Capture Expert Know-How Before It Leaves
A knowledge transfer plan is a structured plan to capture the critical know-how of an experienced employee and pass it to successors before they retire, move or leave. This free knowledge transfer plan template maps tasks, ranks knowledge risk, plans capture and transfer, and verifies successors. Actarion captures expert tasks as AR-guided instructions.
Training and knowledge retentionupdated 3 Nov
Why do shop-floor documents fail?
- Every team uses its own version, so nobody knows which checklist is current.
- Paper forms get skipped, filled in afterwards or lost before the audit.
- New operators get a binder instead of guidance at the machine.
- Experienced people carry the real procedure in their heads.
Which templates are available?
Every template is complete on the page. Copy it straight into Word, Excel or your own system, or print it.
| Template | Use it for | Typical owner |
|---|---|---|
| Work instruction template | One task, step by step, with key points and visuals | Production engineering |
| SOP template | A controlled procedure with scope, roles and revision history | Quality |
| Preventive maintenance checklist | Recurring inspections and service tasks per asset | Maintenance |
| Maintenance schedule template | Planning all PM tasks by frequency over the year | Maintenance planner |
| Lockout/tagout procedure | Machine-specific energy isolation per OSHA 1910.147 | HSE |
| SMED changeover checklist | Shorter changeovers by moving work to external time | Lean / production |
| Line clearance checklist | GMP batch changes without mix-ups | QA (pharma, food) |
| Quality inspection checklist | First-article, in-process and final inspection | Quality |
| 5S audit checklist | Scoring workplace organization per area | Lean / team leader |
| Pre-shift checklist | Pre-start checks on machines and equipment | Operator |
| Skills matrix template | Who is qualified for which task, and where the gaps are | Team leader / HR |
| Operator onboarding plan | A 30-60-90 day plan for new operators | HR / L&D |
| Knowledge transfer plan | Capturing know-how before an expert retires or leaves | Operations |
How do you use these templates?
- 1Pick one process. Start with the task that causes the most downtime, rework or audit findings.
- 2Fill it in at the machine. Walk through the task with the most experienced operator.
- 3Test it with a new operator. If they get stuck, the template is not finished.
- 4Put it under document control. Give it an owner, a version number and a review date.
- 5Measure. Track changeover time, first-time-right or onboarding time before and after.
From paper to digital with Actarion
A template is a good start. On the shop floor, paper still gets skipped. Actarion takes the next step:
- AI authoring: upload your filled-in template or existing SOP; AI turns it into a step-by-step digital instruction.
- AR guidance: operators follow each step on a tablet or AR glasses (Apple Vision Pro, HoloLens 2, Android XR), with the step shown on the machine.
- Audit trail: every check, photo, time stamp and deviation is logged automatically.
- Skills matrix: completed instructions update qualifications, powered by our technology partner DeepSight.
- Pilot with fixed KPIs: we start with one use case and measure the result.
Read more about digital checklists and digital work instructions.
Get started
Use a template below, or book a free intake call to see your own SOP running as a digital, AR-guided instruction.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. You can use, copy and adapt every template on these pages for free.
They follow common practice for ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and GMP documentation. Always add your own document control and have your quality or HSE team approve the final version.
Start where errors or downtime hurt most. For many plants that is the changeover checklist, the LOTO procedure or the work instruction template.
Yes. Actarion uses AI to convert existing SOPs, PDFs and Word files into digital, AR-guided work instructions.
Yes. Add your logo, steps and approval fields. Keep the structure so they are easy to digitize later.
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