Threaded separates what editors build from what operators execute. Editors work on draft Work Instructions and Draft Map commits; operators see only published Work Instructions — the current, approved documentation with no exposure to drafts, in-progress edits, or prior versions.
#What Operators See
Operators access published Work Instructions through Instructions in the top navigation. The library shows only published documents. Opening a Work Instruction displays its procedures, work steps, annotated images, and referenced parts and tools — the same content editors approved, without draft or review tooling.
What operators don’t see is equally important. Draft Work Instructions, the Diff and Review tabs, Map Draft commits, and version history are all hidden. An operator’s view is always the current published state. There is no way for an operator to accidentally access or be confused by in-progress work.
#What Operators Can Do
Operators can view published Work Instructions and create Issues. Issues let operators flag problems, ask questions, or provide feedback directly from the instruction they’re working on, with the ability to attach media like photos or video. This feedback flows to editors and engineers who can review it and act on it through the normal improvement workflow.
Operators can also view their Training sign-off status when Training is enabled for the organization.
Operators cannot edit Work Instructions, publish drafts, engage with the AI Assistant, or run Process CI checks. For the full breakdown of what each role can access, see the roles table in Membership and Sharing.
#Adding Operators to Your Organization
Operators are added by an Owner from Admin > Members. When inviting a new member, select the Operator role and enter their email address. They’ll receive an invitation to set up their account and will have access to the organization immediately after accepting.
Operator access is included in the Builder and Transform plans at no additional cost, with no extra per-seat charge for operators when an organization is on a paid plan. Operator Mode is not available on the free Starter plan. For plan details, see Subscriptions and Billing.
#Why This Matters for Compliance
The separation between what editors and operators can access ensures that operators only see approved documentation at the point of use — essential for proper training, execution, and planning. Compliance frameworks like ISO 9001 require that only the current, approved version of a document is accessible where work is performed. Operator Mode satisfies this requirement by design: operators see only published Work Instructions, drafts are never visible, and obsolete versions are replaced automatically when a new version is published.
#Accessing Threaded as an Operator
Operators can access Threaded through the web app on any device, or through the mobile app. Mobile access is particularly useful for floor teams who may not have a desktop at their station. Instructions adapt to vertical or horizontal orientation. Operators can also capture photos directly from the app when creating Issues. For more on installing the app, see Downloading the Application.