> Creating Dispatch Work Orders

Create dispatch work orders from regular work orders of the type Standing WO. Dispatch standing work orders for small maintenance or custodial activities to record details about many small repairs that occur over a longer period of time, rather than a single repair at a specific time.

Dispatches typically require minor effort—they do not necessarily need extensive equipment and can often be resolved quickly without printing out a formal work order.

When you receive dispatch calls, log the requests, assign employees, and then close the requests. Datastream 7i automatically enters all status changes.

   Create action codes specifically for different dispatch needs. Refer to the Action codes form (ONACCO). For example, use one code when an employee needs to move any kind of furniture or equipment and another code when an employee needs to clear sidewalks after a snowfall. Associate these codes with a particular cost code to ensure that maintenance costs are allocated correctly.

Follow these steps to create dispatch work orders.

  1. Open the Dispatch form (WMSWOD).

  2. Click the Record view tab. Datastream 7i displays the Record view page.

  3. Dispatch—Enter a description of the request in the adjacent field. Datastream 7i assigns a dispatch work order number after you save the record.

  4. Organization—Click to select the organization to which the dispatch work order belongs if you use multi-organization security.

  5. Class—Click to select the class of the work. The classes shown belong to the DISP entity.

  6. Work order—Click to select the standing work order number. When you select the work order, Datastream 7i changes the status of the request to Open/person not assigned.

   The work order you select must be of the type Standing WO. If it is not, Datastream 7i does not dispatch it.

  1. Activity—Click to select the activity to associate with the dispatch work order.

  2. End date—Enter the date the work was completed as necessary. If you enter a date, Datastream 7i changes the status of the request to Closed.

  3. Assigned to—Click to select the employee performing the work. When you select an employee, Datastream 7i changes the status of the request to Dispatched.

  4. Originator—Click to select the employee requesting the work.

  5. Action code—Click to select a general description of the action taken in response to the request.

  6. Cost code—Click to select the cost code for the work order.

  7. Choose File | Save from the menu bar. Datastream 7i saves the information to the database.