Job Types on Work Orders

Historically numbers have been used to represent the work type.

As numbers are not a universal human method of description, the work type is also described using words.

The proper choice of words is critical if classification errors are to be minimized.

Keywords: CMMS, computerized maintenance system, breakdown, corrective, work order, implementation. 

CMMS

A Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) is part of the modern maintenance department’s toolkit.

It is as important to the business of maintenance as a screwdriver is to a fitter or an electrician. Without it, you can only achieve average results.

The difference between a screwdriver and a CMMS is that only one person can use a screwdriver, whereas a CMMS requires everyone to use it.

When two or more people share communication it becomes necessary to check that the words used mean the same to both.

Be a communicative captain

Patrick Forsyth in his book ‘Communicating with Staff’ says to use clear words (“…the right words, the right phrases ”) and straightforward words (“short words, short phrases and short paragraphs ”) so “…that good communication can contribute to the achievement of whatever results are planned”.

Some words actually cause confusion.

Words like “BREAKDOWN”, “CORRECTIVE”, “MODIFICATION” commonly appear as Job Types on maintenance work orders.

They are difficult concepts to grasp and may not mean a lot to an operator who has to fill out a work request.

A ship’s captain doesn’t give confused orders to his helmsman.

He uses words like “dead stop’, ‘hard to port’, ‘come about’ – simple words with a clear meaning.

If people have to enter data into a CMMS that is used later by others try using words that mean the same to everyone.

The table below has some examples.

Instead of	Try Using
Breakdown	Does not work, Stopped dead, Won’t go
Corrective	Works poorly
Modification	Needs to be better
Capital	All brand new

Simple words will reduce training, improve input accuracy and make implementation faster.