Full definition
A formal document (paper or electronic via CMMS — Computerized Maintenance Management System) that authorizes, describes, tracks, and records a specific maintenance task. A complete work order contains: (1) Equipment identification — asset number, name, location. (2) Work description — what needs to be done (clear, specific). (3) Priority — emergency (immediate), urgent (24h), routine (1 week), planned (next shutdown). (4) Spare parts — required materials, part numbers, quantities, availability status. (5) Labor — trade skills required, estimated hours, assigned technician(s). (6) Safety — permits, LOTO requirements, PPE, JSA/risk assessment. (7) Timing — requested date, scheduled date, due date. (8) Completion — actual hours, parts used, findings, follow-up recommendations, and date completed. Work orders are the backbone of maintenance management — they provide: planning and scheduling input, cost tracking (labor + parts = total maintenance cost per asset), failure history for RCA, compliance documentation (regulatory, ISO), and KPI data (PM compliance, backlog, MTTR). Per ISO 55000 (asset management) and CMMS best practices. Leading CMMS platforms: SAP PM, IBM Maximo, Fiix, UpKeep, and eMaint. A maintenance organization without a disciplined work order system cannot effectively manage costs, track reliability, or optimize resources.