Solution
Knowledge capture: keep expert know-how when people leave
Knowledge capture for manufacturing: record how experienced staff work and turn it into AI-generated AR instructions before that know-how leaves the plant.
In short
Knowledge capture is the process of recording how experienced employees do their work, so others can repeat it. Actarion captures expert know-how on video or during the task, turns it into AI-generated, step-by-step work instructions with AR, and makes it available to every operator, with a record of every execution.
How it works on the shop floor
How does knowledge capture work with Actarion?
- 1
Record the expert.
The expert performs the task while it is filmed on a phone, tablet or AR glasses, and explains as they go.
- 2
Generate instructions with AI.
AI turns the recording into structured steps with images and checks. See AI authoring.
- 3
Review together.
The expert checks the result and adds tips and warnings.
- 4
Share with AR.
Other operators follow the instruction with AR guidance. See AR guidance.
- 5
Keep improving.
Execution data shows where people get stuck, so you can refine the instruction. See analytics and audit trail.
Why is knowledge walking out of your plant?
- Experienced technicians retire, and much of what they know was never written down.
- Rare tasks, such as an annual overhaul, depend on one or two people.
- New colleagues ask the same questions, and experts lose time answering them.
- When the expert is on leave, a breakdown takes longer to fix.
What is knowledge capture?
Knowledge capture is recording tacit, experience-based knowledge (often called tribal knowledge) and making it explicit and reusable. On the shop floor that means capturing not just what an expert does, but also the tips, checks and order that make the job go right.
Knowledge transfer is the next step: getting that knowledge to the people who need it, at the moment they need it.
Key features
- Capture with video and photos, during the real task.
- AI turns recordings into step-by-step instructions.
- Expert tips and warnings per step.
- AR guidance for colleagues who repeat the task.
- Remote expert support while the expert is still available.
- Version control as the process changes.
Paper vs. digital vs. digital with AR
| Criterion | In people's heads / on paper | Video library | Captured knowledge as AR instruction (Actarion) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captured | Partly, if at all | Yes, unstructured | Yes, structured in steps |
| Findable at the machine | No | Search through videos | Instruction opens per task |
| Repeatable by others | Only with the expert | Hard to follow | Step by step with AR and checks |
| Up to date | Unknown | Rarely updated | Versioned and reviewed |
Use cases and industries
- Preventive maintenance: rare and complex maintenance tasks.
- Remote expert support: the expert helps remotely, and the session becomes an instruction.
- Onboarding and training: new hires learn from captured expert know-how.
- Manufacturing and energy, where staff retirement hits hard.
Which knowledge should you capture first?
Not all knowledge is equally at risk. Score each task on three questions and start with the highest total:
| Question | Low risk | High risk |
|---|---|---|
| How many people can do this task? | Many | One or two |
| When does the expert leave or retire? | No date known | Within two years |
| What happens if it goes wrong? | Small delay | Long downtime, safety or quality incident |
How do you implement knowledge capture?
- 1Make a risk list. of critical tasks per expert, together with the team leaders.
- 2Plan recording sessions. during real work, such as a planned overhaul or a rare changeover.
- 3Record and convert. The expert records with a phone, tablet or AR glasses; AI turns it into steps.
- 4Review with the expert. and add tips, warnings and tolerances per step.
- 5Let a colleague repeat the task. with AR guidance while the expert watches, and sign off.
- 6Measure and extend. coverage of the risk list, trained backups per task and calls to the expert.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until the farewell party. Capture starts a year or more before someone leaves, not in their last week.
- Long, unedited videos. Nobody watches 40 minutes at the machine. Cut knowledge into short, findable steps.
- Capturing without a successor. Knowledge only transfers when someone actually performs the task and is signed off.
How Actarion helps
- We help you identify the critical knowledge at risk, task by task.
- Experts record their work once; AI does the writing.
- Colleagues repeat the task with AR guidance and checks.
- We start with a pilot on the tasks with the highest risk.
Secure the know-how of your experts
In a free intake call we pick the tasks where knowledge loss is the biggest risk.
- Scope
- 1–2 lines, 1 process
- Duration
- 6–8 weeks
- KPIs
- lead time · first time right · errors
- Prerequisite
- baseline across several shifts
Frequently asked questions
The expert mainly does the task as usual while it is recorded, and then reviews the AI draft. According to DeepSight, capture is up to 95% faster than writing an instruction by hand; plan one recording session plus one review round per task.
Knowledge capture records the know-how. Knowledge transfer gets it to the people who need it. Actarion does both: capture, then AR-guided execution.
Pricing is tailored to your industry and sector. Book a free intake call for a proposal.
Explain the goal, let the expert review every step and credit their know-how. Most experts are glad their way of working is kept.
See your own process as a digital work instruction.
In 30 minutes we look at your process, your numbers and the fastest route to a measurable pilot. No sales pitch, just concrete advice.