Published: July 15, 2024  Updated: December 31, 2024

Work Order Types

Maintenance departments use work order types to document and outline a specific task or set of tasks technicians need to complete. For better communication between supervisors and the rest of the team, you should understand the different types of work orders.

That's what this article will delve into. With each type, I'll provide an industry example. Also, keep reading to see how a computerized maintenance management system organizes work orders and work order types.

While specific industries and companies may have different names for the varying types of work orders, you'll see a commonality with the following.

1. Repair
• These address unforeseen equipment failures or breakdowns. While a properly organized preventive maintenance program seeks to minimize these types, you can't eliminate them. The urgency of these repairs depends on the severity of the issue.
• Industry Example: A manufacturing plant experiences a malfunction in an assembly line conveyor belt. A repair work order details the technician to diagnose the problem and fix the conveyor to minimize production downtime.
• CMMS Benefits:
• Captures detailed information about the failure. This includes equipment details, symptoms, and root cause analysis for future reference.
• Track the repair history for each asset. Supervisors can analyze this information to shape future maintenance plans. Listing the parts used will also help future availability, knowing what to have ahead of time.
• Set priorities for efficiency and to have the best-skilled workers on the job.
2. Preventive Maintenance (PM)
• These proactive work orders seek to keep assets functioning and reliable. They extend asset life. You want to prevent equipment failures before they occur.
• Industry Example: A hospital schedules preventive maintenance work orders for their medical imaging equipment. This includes regular cleaning, calibration, and replacement of specific parts. This keeps the machines available when needed.
• CMMS Benefits:
• Create and schedule preventive maintenance tasks based on manufacturer recommendations, industry standards, previous maintenance history, or internal routines.
• Set up PM cycles. That way, you don't neglect the regularity of the inspections/cleaning/etc. Quarterly, Semi-annual, and Annual tasks will potentially have more steps or involve part replacement, ensuring nothing gets missed.
• Track preventive maintenance history and generate reports to assess the effectiveness of the maintenance plan. Planning and scheduling PM work will help adjust the necessary labor and materials for future maintenance to perform the task as efficiently as possible.
3. Safety
• These work orders address potential safety hazards identified during inspections or routine operations. They prioritize safety and aim to prevent accidents or injuries. Learn more about the importance of safety and maintenance at Supply House Times.
• Industry Example: During a routine safety inspection at a construction site, an inspector notices loose wiring on a power tool. You'd designate this as a safety work order type. Besides the priority setting, this type helps to show the importance of the repair.
• CMMS Benefits:
• Manage and track safety inspections. Document findings and assign corrective actions through further work orders.
• Schedule recurring safety inspections based on regulations or internal protocols.
• Generate reports on identified safety hazards and track their remediation progress.
4. Corrective Maintenance
• These might result from PMs. An inspection reveals a corrective measure needed. They address issues identified before they lead to full equipment failure.
• Industry Example: An oil refinery technician discovers excessive vibration during a routine inspection of a pump. A corrective maintenance work order details instructions to discover the source of the problem and take necessary repair actions.
• CMMS Benefits:
• Documentation of problem, cause, and action taken provides a historical record.
• Track the effectiveness of corrective maintenance actions in preventing future equipment failures.

5. Support Maintenance
• This work order type includes tasks that indirectly support equipment operation but do not directly relate to repairs or maintenance. They may involve calibrations, adjustments, or minor modifications.
• Industry Example: A grocery store needs to adjust the temperature settings on their display freezers to conserve energy.
• CMMS Benefits:
• Track equipment readings to assist with PMs.
• Keep a history of revisions to asset records.
• Generate reports on support maintenance activities to identify recurring needs and potential process improvements.
6. Restoration/Overhaul
• These comprehensive work orders involve extensive repairs or complete overhauls of equipment that has reached the end of its useful life. They aim to restore the equipment to a functional state and extend its operational lifespan.
• Industry Example: An airline schedules a restoration work order for a high-utilization aircraft engine. The work order will involve a complete disassembly, inspection, replacement of worn parts, and reassembly to ensure continued safe operation.
• CMMS Benefits:
• Document costs and resources (labor and inventory used).
• Manage the procurement of parts and materials needed for the restoration/overhaul.
• Track the number of rebuilds. You may discover a limit on the times you can do this safely and effectively.
7. Audit-QA/QC/ISO 55000/OSHA
• You select this type to stay compliant with various regulations associated with a certain asset. Quality standards, asset management, or safety regulations.
• Industry Example: A pharmaceutical company prepares for an upcoming FDA inspection. They create audit work orders to verify that they have proper calibration for manufacturing equipment. A similar work order would document cleaning procedures. For more information on this type, see ASQ.org.
• CMMS Benefits:
• Manage and schedule tasks required to meet specific audit requirements.
• Provide a centralized repository for equipment documentation, maintenance records, and calibration certificates.
• Generate reports demonstrating compliance with relevant standards and regulations.
8. Shutdown Repairs
• Some companies schedule periods of shutdown. This way, technicians have a chance to complete extensive repairs and PMs they couldn't during normal operations. This reduces interruptions to production and many companies find this method efficient. AMACS has an article delving further into company shutdowns.
• Industry Example: A paper mill schedules a planned shutdown for annual maintenance. Tasks might include replacing worn bearings on a roller.
• CMMS Benefits:
• Plan and schedule shutdown work orders in conjunction with the overall shutdown plan.
• Properly allocate resources for efficiency.
• Track costs throughout the shutdown period.
• Track progress on shutdown work orders and identify potential delays that could impact the overall shutdown timeline.
• Provide a platform for communication and collaboration among maintenance teams working on shutdown activities.

Conclusion

As shown above, you have several choices for work order types. Each carries its own value of importance. As a supervisor, you have to judge the priorities of the different types as they come up. Of course, you tend to emergencies which might include the Repair and Safety work orders.

Using a CMMS brings organization to work orders. You have a list of open, closed, and backlogged jobs. You have oversight of the entire maintenance program. With various types from which to choose, you have better planning and scheduling.

A CMMS brings opportunities for better efficiency and productivity. For further details about work order software read this article. 800-922-4337