Organizing Wendelstein 7-X device operation

•Three W7-X experimental campaigns have been successfully completed between 2015 and 2018.•The working group Device Operation has implemented an organizational structure and workflow to ensure safe and reliable operation.•A workflow that involve commissioning templates, checklists, procedures for plasma heating energy release, operation malfunction cards, logbooks and planning tools has been integrated.•For the upcoming operational phase (actively cooled divertor) these workflows will be further developed and enhanced towards steady state plasma operation.