Work order
A document that authorizes a maintenance or service task and records who did what, when, and with which parts.
How it works
A work order starts from a request, an inspection finding, or a preventive maintenance schedule. It names the asset, describes the task, and sets a priority. A planner may add steps, safety notes such as lockout/tagout, estimated hours, and spare parts. The order is scheduled, assigned, carried out, and closed.
At closing, the technician records what they found, what they did, how long it took, and which parts they used.
Why it matters
The work order is both a plan and a record. As a plan, it makes sure the right person shows up with the right information and parts. As a record, it builds the history of each asset, which feeds metrics such as MTTR and MTBF, cost reports, audits, and the next technician's diagnosis.
In practice
The closing notes are where most of the value is lost. A technician at the end of a long job writes "replaced part, OK". The next person facing the same fault learns nothing. Teams that make recording quick, with photos, voice notes, or short templates, get better history without adding much work.
Many teams also separate a work request, raised by anyone, from the work order, which is approved and planned.
Related terms
For the full cycle, see The life of a work order. In Machine QR, see Work orders.