Once upon a time … yada, yada, yada … and the construction company operated happily ever after.

 Wait. What happens there in the middle? What insights and cost-saving opportunities lead to operational bliss? If you simply log service requests, close work orders, and move on, you’ll never know. 

What Is a Work Order? Really?

A work order is more than an outline of repairs to be made. Each one is a chapter in an ongoing story. When analyzed collectively, the data reveals operational conflicts related to tools, teams, and job sites and can be used to predict maintenance, optimize asset usage, and improve employee performance.

Recurring Equipment Issues

Repeated service requests for the same asset, whether it’s a jackhammer or a scissor lift, could signal various problems. It may be a deeper maintenance issue. Or it could simply be overuse. Either way, you’ll be able to address the issue and save on repair costs moving forward.

A similar but different problem is underperforming tools. If the downtime percentage does not correlate with how frequently the tool is used, you may want to replace it with something of a higher caliber.

Operator Errors

If you notice that service requests typically come from the same employee, you’ve got a character-driven problem that can usually be solved with supplemental training.

Jobsite-Specific Hazards

The setting is an important part of any story. The type of terrain associated with construction sites is inevitably going to cause wear and tear on equipment. But an imbalance in work orders from different locations may indicate that environmental hazards at a specific site are damaging tools. 

The moral of this story? Swapping out normal-duty equipment with that designed for heavy-duty use or rough terrain can restore service order balance.  

Process Inefficiencies

Are service requests being completed on time? If not, take a look at the entire process, from the initial request to the ordering of parts and the final approval. This allows you to identify inefficiencies and streamline processes accordingly.  

Comprehensive Asset Management

ToolWatch tells the whole story. Besides equipment tracking capabilities, you can use it to view, filter, and analyze work orders across sites, teams, and asset classes — all on the same dashboard. Schedule a demo today.