Know-How
Practical knowledge of how to actually get something done under real conditions.
What it means
Know-how is applied knowledge — unlike plain information, it includes how to use it, the context, and its limits. It's built through practice and tends to be tied to specific people and operations.
Why it matters
Know-how is what separates an organization that knows the procedures from one that can actually apply them in a non-standard situation.
A real-world example
Two plants use the same technology, but one achieves significantly higher uptime. The difference is know-how, not equipment.
The body of practical knowledge and procedures that lets an organization run and make decisions.
Unspoken knowledge and experience that exists only in people's heads.
Knowledge of how processes actually run and where their weak points lie.
Knowledge of technologies and equipment and how they really behave in operation.
Turning specific people's knowledge into a structured, usable form.