Survey: 87% in Manufacturing Still Ask Colleagues for Help Even After Watching Video Manuals (n=841)

Epistec Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Suginami-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yuta Naito), provider of the video procedure manual SaaS 'Dive', conducted a survey on the use of videos for work procedures, targeting personnel at manufacturing sites and in management.

■ Survey Summary
- 36% of manufacturing site and management personnel have implemented or experienced video work procedures (841 out of 2,333 individuals).
- Even with videos implemented, 87% report that they 'sometimes ask a senior colleague or peer even after watching the video'.
- There are two uses for video work procedures: 'watch-to-learn' (training/pre-education) and 'look-up-to-use' (on-site reference). A single, continuous video works for the former but creates friction for the latter.
- 80% of those who ask questions feel a psychological burden from asking people and stopping their work.

■ Survey Background
In the manufacturing industry, skill succession from experienced workers and securing/training personnel capable of providing on-site guidance (OJT) are challenges, driven by a declining and aging workforce. The number of manufacturing workers aged 34 and under decreased by about 20% from 3.26 million in 2002 to 2.59 million in 2023, and the total number of workers continues to shrink, standing at about 10.46 million in 2024 (*).
While efforts to create video versions of work procedures are spreading, some companies report that 'they were introduced but are not fully utilized on-site'. Our company conducted this survey in June 2026 to verify this situation with primary data.
* Source: METI, MHLW, MEXT '2025 White Paper on Manufacturing Industries'

■ Survey Results
- **36% of manufacturing site/management personnel have adopted video procedures.**
Of 2,333 individuals identified as manufacturing site staff or managers, 36% (841) have implemented or have experience with video work procedures, while 64% have not or were unsure.
- **Even with adoption, 87% 'still ask colleagues after watching'.**
Among those with video experience (n=841), the total for 'often' and 'sometimes' was 87%. Even with videos, on-site questioning behavior has not changed significantly.
- **75% feel they are 'not utilized as much as expected'.**
In the same group (n=841), only 25% said they were 'utilized as expected', while 75% felt they were not.
- **63% report they are 'not being used continuously'.**
Only 37% said they were 'used often', with the remaining 63% indicating that the videos were not functioning continuously or practically.
- **80% of 'askers' feel a psychological burden.**
An additional survey was conducted on 500 people from the adoption group. 80% of those in a position to 'ask' and 55% of those in a position to be 'asked' reported feeling a psychological burden.
- **46% use videos for 'reference', while 45% use them for training.**
Actual use cases showed that 46% used them for reference ('checking during work' 33% + 'checking before an infrequent task' 13%), while 45% used them in training scenarios.
- **Pain points are varied, with multiple issues around 30%.**
Reported issues included 'hard to find the necessary scene' (30%), 'tips and know-how are not conveyed' (27%), 'content doesn't match my situation' (28%), 'video is too long' (32%), and 'content is outdated' (31%).
- **About 80% are interested in 'referable video manuals'.**
When presented with the concept of a searchable manual, 29% showed intent to replace their current method, and 50% showed intent for combined use.

■ Conclusion
Video work procedures have two main uses: 'watch-to-learn' training and 'look-up-to-use' on-site reference. This survey revealed that while a single continuous video works for the former, friction remains for the latter, with 87% 'ending up asking anyway'. As skill succession and OJT become more critical in manufacturing, design choices based on the intended use of videos will become increasingly important.