Work Orders · Beginner
Understand Work Order Statuses
Learn to interpret work order statuses in ManWinWin and distinguish work awaiting execution, work in progress, terminated work and closed records. Recognise the optional Performed and Approved stages and understand why not every work order starts at the same stage.
Understanding work order statuses is fundamental for effective maintenance management. It ensures clear communication, accurate reporting, and efficient resource allocation, preventing delays and improving operational visibility. This guide will walk you through the various work order stages in ManWinWin Web, from planning to closure.
Where it's available and step by step
Step by step in ManWinWin Web
- 1
Select the Work Orders tab in ManWinWin Desktop and open a sample work order to inspect its status without changing it.
- 2
Review a Scheduled example and identify it as work planned for later execution, rather than work already underway.
- 3
Review an In Progress example and distinguish this execution stage from Scheduled work.
- 4
If your workflow uses Performed and Approved, identify these additional checkpoints: in M-WEB, Perform moves work from In Progress to Performed, and Approve moves it from Performed to Approved; do not execute either action during this review.
- 5
Review a Terminated example and distinguish work whose execution has been finished from a record that has been finally closed.
- 6
Review a Closed example and note that closing blocks editing or modification of all work order fields.
- 7
Compare the examples with the configured starting status for corrective work orders: the administrator can set Scheduled, In Progress or Terminated, so a newly created record does not necessarily represent work awaiting execution.
- 8
For each sample, state its current stage and whether it represents work for later execution, ongoing work, an optional execution or approval checkpoint, terminated work or a closed record, leaving all statuses unchanged.
Theory and technical background
The Importance of Clear Work Order Statuses
Defined work order statuses are critical for transparent maintenance operations. They allow all stakeholders, from technicians to management, to immediately understand the current state of a maintenance task. This clarity facilitates timely decisions, such as dispatching personnel or procuring parts, directly impacting key performance indicators like Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) by minimizing idle time. Standardized statuses also support compliance with best practices and provide auditable records of maintenance activities.
Stages of the Work Order Lifecycle
A typical work order progresses through several distinct stages: from creation and planning (e.g., Scheduled) to active execution (e.g., In Progress), completion (e.g., Terminated), and final administrative closure (Closed). Intermediate stages like Performed and Approved offer additional checkpoints for quality control or managerial oversight, especially important in complex or critical maintenance tasks. The specific sequence and mandatory nature of these stages can be configured to align with an organization's unique maintenance policy and regulatory requirements, as per ISO 55000 principles.
Impact on Maintenance Planning and KPIs
Accurate work order statuses are vital for robust maintenance planning and performance measurement. A high number of 'Scheduled' orders indicates a strong proactive approach, while 'In Progress' numbers reflect current workload. Tracking the time spent in each status contributes to calculating MTTR and overall maintenance lead time. By analyzing the transitions between statuses, organizations can identify bottlenecks, optimize resource utilization, and improve the efficiency of their corrective, preventive, and predictive maintenance programs, ultimately enhancing asset availability and OEE.
Best practices
- Regularly review work order statuses to ensure they accurately reflect ongoing operations.
- Train all technicians and supervisors on proper status updates to maintain data integrity.
- Utilize optional stages like 'Performed' and 'Approved' for critical work requiring formal sign-offs.
- Analyze historical status data to identify workflow inefficiencies and areas for improvement.
Frequently asked questions
Why don't all new work orders start at the 'Scheduled' stage?
The initial status of a work order is configurable. For urgent corrective work, an administrator might set the default to 'In Progress' or even 'Terminated' if reported after completion, reflecting immediate action or post-facto documentation needs.
What is the difference between 'Terminated' and 'Closed'?
'Terminated' means the maintenance work itself is physically complete. 'Closed' signifies that all administrative tasks (costing, feedback, approvals) are finalized, and no further changes are expected to the record.
Can I edit a 'Closed' work order in ManWinWin?
No, a 'Closed' work order typically blocks all editing and modification of its fields. This ensures data integrity for historical records, reporting, and auditing purposes, adhering to EAM best practices for data finality.
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