AI Assistant Use Cases

This article covers common ways to use the AI Assistant in Threaded, with example prompts you can use as a starting point. For an overview of how the assistant works, see The AI Assistant.

When using any of these prompts, tailor them to your specific needs and @mention the relevant procedures, nodes, or parts to give the assistant focused context for a better response.

#Work Instructions

Draft a new procedure

“Draft a work instruction for [operation name] based on the adjacent steps in this node. Include cycle time, required tools, and safety notes.”

Improve an existing step

“This step feels unclear. Rewrite it so an operator performing it for the first time would understand exactly what to do.”

Bulk consistency update

“Review the steps in this procedure and flag any that don’t follow our standard format — active verb, object, acceptance criteria.”

Add tooling or parts

“Add all of the parts from this BOM [CSV attachment] to my Parts table.”

#Process Analysis

Identify bottlenecks

“Based on the cycle times and actuals in this value stream, where is the constraint? What’s driving it and how can I resolve?”

Analyze line balance

“Compare operator workload across these stations. Where is work unevenly distributed? Help me rebalance.”

Plan vs. Actuals review

“How does our actual performance compare to the process plan for this operation? What’s the biggest gap?”

Model a change

“If we reduced the cycle time on [step] by 20%, what would the downstream impact be on throughput?”

#Continuous Improvement

Surface improvement opportunities

“Review this procedure and suggest the three highest-impact improvements based on cycle time, waste, or quality risk.”

Prioritize a CI backlog

“Here are five improvement ideas. Help me prioritize them by estimated impact and ease of implementation.”

Connect floor feedback to process

“An operator flagged that [issue] keeps happening at this step. What in the current instruction might be contributing to it, and how would you address it?”

#Parts and Tools

Audit parts usage

“Which parts in this procedure are used in fewer than two other nodes? Flag them as potential single-point dependencies.”

Clean up a tools table

“Review the tools listed in this procedure. Identify any duplicates, missing specs, or tools that appear in the steps but aren’t in the table.”

Supply chain dependency check

“Analyze the supply chain in my parts table and summarize the risks to my value stream.”

#Application Support

The assistant has access to all documentation and functionality in the app, meaning if you have a question about how to do something or how features of Threaded may help, you can just ask.

“I’m new, tell me about the Threaded app.” or, “How do I get started?”

“Tell me about Work Instructions in Threaded.”

“What can I do on this page?”

#General Manufacturing Knowledge

The assistant can also answer manufacturing questions outside your workspace — useful when you’re researching a new process, exploring lean techniques, or need a quick reference.

“What’s the difference between takt time and cycle time, and how should I use each in process planning?”

“Walk me through how to run a SMED analysis on a changeover.”

“What are the most common root causes of visual instruction failures in assembly operations?”

These responses are grounded in general manufacturing knowledge and will become specific to your workspace when you add context with @mentions.