Operator Mode

Threaded’s Version Control separates your instruction set into Development and Production environments. Editors work in Development, and changes reach Production only after a reviewed and approved Change Request. Operator Mode is the Production side of that split: a simpler, focused experience that gives floor teams the current, approved version of every work instruction with no exposure to drafts, previous versions, or in-progress changes.

#What Operators See

Operators access their instructions through the Process tab, where they see the current published version of the instruction set. The view includes procedures, work steps, annotated images, and referenced parts and tools, organized by process node just like the editor view. Navigation works the same way: the sidebar groups procedures by process node, and left/right arrows allow progression through the instruction set.

What operators don’t see is equally important. Draft content in the Development environment, previous versions, and Change Request history are all hidden. An operator’s view of Threaded is always the current, approved state of the process. There is no way for an operator to accidentally access or be confused by in-progress work.

#What Operators Can Do

Operators can view instructions and create Actions. Actions let operators flag issues, ask questions, or provide feedback directly from the instruction they’re working on, with the ability to attach media like photos or video to make the issue clear. This feedback flows to editors and engineers who can review it and act on it through the normal improvement workflow.

Operators cannot edit instructions, open Change Requests, 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 exists to ensure that operators only have access to the right information at any given time for proper training, execution, and planning. Additionally, compliance frameworks like ISO 9001 require that only the current, approved version of a document is accessible at the point of use. Operator Mode satisfies this requirement by design: operators see only Production, drafts are never visible, and access to obsolete versions is automatically removed when a new version is released through Version Control. There is no extra manual step required to ensure operators in Threaded are looking at the right version.

#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 are the same on mobile, and adapt to vertical or horizontal orientation. Operators can also capture photos directly from the app when creating Actions. For more on installing the app, see Downloading the Application.