RAG Implementation Workflow

---
name: rag-implementation-087496c0ebe4
description: "RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) implementation workflow covering embedding selection, vector database setup, chunking strategies, and retrieval optimization."
category: granular-workflow-bundle
risk: safe
source: personal
date_added: "2026-02-27"
---

# RAG Implementation Workflow

## Overview

Specialized workflow for implementing RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) systems including embedding model selection, vector database setup, chunking strategies, retrieval optimization, and evaluation.

## When to Use This Workflow

Use this workflow when:
- Building RAG-powered applications
- Implementing semantic search
- Creating knowledge-grounded AI
- Setting up document Q&A systems
- Optimizing retrieval quality

## Workflow Phases

### Phase 1: Requirements Analysis

#### Skills to Invoke
- `ai-product` - AI product design
- `rag-engineer` - RAG engineering

#### Actions
1. Define use case
2. Identify data sources
3. Set accuracy requirements
4. Determine latency targets
5. Plan evaluation metrics

#### Copy-Paste Prompts
```
Use @ai-product to define RAG application requirements
```

### Phase 2: Embedding Selection

#### Skills to Invoke
- `embedding-strategies` - Embedding selection
- `rag-engineer` - RAG patterns

#### Actions
1. Evaluate embedding models
2. Test domain relevance
3. Measure embedding quality
4. Consider cost/latency
5. Select model

#### Copy-Paste Prompts
```
Use @embedding-strategies to select optimal embedding model
```

### Phase 3: Vector Database Setup

#### Skills to Invoke
- `vector-database-engineer` - Vector DB
- `similarity-search-patterns` - Similarity search

#### Actions
1. Choose vector database
2. Design schema
3. Configure indexes
4. Set up connection
5. Test queries

#### Copy-Paste Prompts
```
Use @vector-database-engineer to set up vector database
```

### Phase 4: Chunking Strategy

#### Skills to Invoke
- `rag-engineer` - Chunking strategies
- `rag-implementation` - RAG implementation

#### Actions
1. Choose chunk size
2. Implement chunking
3. Add overlap handling
4. Create metadata
5. Test retrieval quality

#### Copy-Paste Prompts
```
Use @rag-engineer to implement chunking strategy
```

### Phase 5: Retrieval Implementation

#### Skills to Invoke
- `similarity-search-patterns` - Similarity search
- `hybrid-search-implementation` - Hybrid search

#### Actions
1. Implement vector search
2. Add keyword search
3. Configure hybrid search
4. Set up reranking
5. Optimize latency

#### Copy-Paste Prompts
```
Use @similarity-search-patterns to implement retrieval
```

```
Use @hybrid-search-implementation to add hybrid search
```

### Phase 6: LLM Integration

#### Skills to Invoke
- `llm-application-dev-ai-assistant` - LLM integration
- `llm-application-dev-prompt-optimize` - Prompt optimization

#### Actions
1. Select LLM provider
2. Design prompt template
3. Implement context injection
4. Add citation handling
5. Test generation quality

#### Copy-Paste Prompts
```
Use @llm-application-dev-ai-assistant to integrate LLM
```

### Phase 7: Caching

#### Skills to Invoke
- `prompt-caching` - Prompt caching
- `rag-engineer` - RAG optimization

#### Actions
1. Implement response caching
2. Set up embedding cache
3. Configure TTL
4. Add cache invalidation
5. Monitor hit rates

#### Copy-Paste Prompts
```
Use @prompt-caching to implement RAG caching
```

### Phase 8: Evaluation

#### Skills to Invoke
- `llm-evaluation` - LLM evaluation
- `evaluation` - AI evaluation

#### Actions
1. Define evaluation metrics
2. Create test dataset
3. Measure retrieval accuracy
4. Evaluate generation quality
5. Iterate on improvements

#### Copy-Paste Prompts
```
Use @llm-evaluation to evaluate RAG system
```

## RAG Architecture

```
User Query -> Embedding -> Vector Search -> Retrieved Docs -> LLM -> Response
                |              |              |              |
            Model         Vector DB     Chunk Store    Prompt + Context
```

## Quality Gates

- [ ] Embedding model selected
- [ ] Vector DB configured
- [ ] Chunking implemented
- [ ] Retrieval working
- [ ] LLM integrated
- [ ] Evaluation passing

## Related Workflow Bundles

- `ai-ml` - AI/ML development
- `ai-agent-development` - AI agents
- `database` - Vector databases

## Limitations
- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
- Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
- Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.