Thursday 7 November 2013

Daxeam version 2.0 Released

POST MULTIPLE WORK ORDERS AT ONCE

Multiple work order can now be posted to projects. This is possible through the periodic function or by simply selecting work orders from the list pages. This function is also available from the activities form.


CREATE WORK ORDER LINE IN SINGLE ACTION

The ability to create a work order line attached to a new work order has been added to the work order line list page, work order line details, engineering asset list page, engineering asset details, engineering asset hierarchy tree and the engineering asset install/remove forms. Simply select the Work order line/Create work order line button from the applicable form.



VERSION 2.0 PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION

Performance tests were executed throughout the Daxeam module. The areas included in tests were:

  • Work order processing 
    • Creating
    • Status updates
    • Item picking
    • Item issuing
    • Item returning
    • Feedback
    • Closing
  • Forecasting – e.g. Cyclic forecasts
  • Posting meters on engineering assets
  • Scheduling
  • Reporting

Optimizations were applied based on the results and analysis of performance tests.

ISSUES FIXED

More than 30 issues non-critical have been resolved.

Wednesday 6 November 2013

Work order workflow – Re-approval – Part 4

We will wrap up our serious on work order workflow by exploring re-approval. Re-approval can be configured to trigger when the work order is in an Approved status. For example, you may require re-approval if an engineering asset has changed or if addition items are entered against the work order or if the forecasted costs change.

1. Click on Enterprise asset management/Setup/Policies/Enterprise asset management policies button to create a new policy.

Enter a Name, and then under the Policy rules. Click on the Create policy rule button.

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2. If you do get an error that the record can’t be save because of the parameters. Just click on the parameters button at the top. Then associate the Companies organization type.

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3. Under the re-approval rule, select the fields that will trigger a re-approval. For example, you might want to allow the work order description to be changed but changing the engineering asset will require a re-approval. This will trigger a confirmation dialog that asks the user if they wish to modify the record as it will require to be submitted for re-approval. Below screenshot illustrates that.

The fields that are available on this form are fields that are editable and visible on the work order details form. Fields that are directly updated on the work order form trigger the re-approval check.

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4. Once you have configured the policy. Then next time someone tries to modify a work the re-approval configurations will be checked. If a re-approval is required, you will get a message like below asking you if you want to save the changes. If you say yes, it will reset the status back to Not submitted. Change what you need as you will see the yellow ribbon again for the work order to be submitted for approval.

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Monday 4 November 2013

Work order workflow – See it in action – Part 3

To continue the topic of work order workflow. Part 3 we will see workflow in action.

Below are see the different buttons and menu items under each action. Prior to submitting, while it is in the task element, while it is in the approval element.

Submit
When a work order meets the workflow condition for activation. A yellow ribbon appears at the top of the work order forms. A submit button will show.
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Task

A task has the following actions. When the clerk has filled in the required information, then they can complete the task.

 

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Approval

Approval may have multiple steps or multiple approvers. So, this may cycle through all the approvers.

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Automatic task

 

Automatic task to progress the work order lines to the next status. Set up for the next status is on the Enterprise asset management parameters.

When the work order is progressed through workflow, you will notice there is an Approval status field on the work order table that is update. This will show us what state the workflow is in.

Approval status

Description

Not submitted

Initial status when the work order is not submitted to workflow. All the fields and buttons are enabled.

Submitted

The status when the submit button is clicked. The work order will be locked for editing and deleting. The action buttons such as the status update, apply template are disabled.

Pending completion

Indicates the task has started and is assigned for completion.

The work order is open for editing to the assigned user. All other users will not be able to edit the record.

Completed

Indicates the task is complete. The work order is not editable. The action buttons are also disabled.

Pending approval

The work order is in the approval steps and is assigned. It will remain in this status until all the steps are approved.

The work order is not editable and the action buttons are disabled. To make any changes required at this stage, the work order must be rejected or a change request be made.

Returned

When the approver clicks the return action it is changed to this status and assigned to the originator to make changes. The originator must then make the changes and re-submit the work order.

The work order is editable to the originator only which it is assigned to.

Change request

Similar to the Returned status. This is an action clicked by the approver. A dialog will appear where you can assign the change request to a particular user. Then it can be resubmitted for approval.

The work order is editable to the assigned user only.

Approved

The final state the work order can go into. It indicates the workflow is complete and approved.

The work order is open for editing and action buttons are enabled.

The re-approval functionality will be triggered when the work order is in the Approved status. If the fields set up to trigger re-approval are modified. Then a confirmation dialog will appear asking the user if they wish to continue editing and submit for re-approval.

Next time we will look at re-approval functionality.

Friday 1 November 2013

Work order workflow – Configure – part 2

In part 1 we did an overview of work order workflow. In part 2 we will do a step by step on how to configure work order workflow.

1. Click on Enterprise asset management/Setup/Enterprise asset management workflows

2. On the Enterprise asset management workflows list page click on the New button.

3. The Work order workflow configuration should be available for selection. Click on the Create workflow  button.

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4. Once the workflow configuration form appears. We are ready to set it up.2013-11-01_1511

5. Click on Basic settings button. Enter a Name and Submission instructions. 2013-11-01_1513

The name will appear on the yellow ribbon when workflow is active. The submission instruction will appear when user clicks on the information icon

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6. On the Activation section, you can set up a condition rule.

The below example has a condition where the work order type is “Ad Hoc”, then this configuration will be used for workflow.

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6. Now drag and drop the workflow elements from the left hand side of the screen to the main area of the screen. Then link them up as follows by dragging and dropping from the edge of each element.

Below is an example that uses a

  • Review task – This would usually be assigned to the clerk to review and make sure the work order is fine. No missing information etc.
  • Approval – This is usually used for financial approvals. We can have multiple steps with in the approval.
  • Automated action to update the work order line status – This will progress the work order lines to the Approved status (dont confuse this with workflow approval – this is the work order line status).

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7. Right click on the Review work order 1 element and the Property menu item.

Enter a subject and instructions.

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Under the assignments tab, I will use Participant (Role based) assignment.

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8. Now for the approvals we will go back to the main workflow configuration screen and double click on Approvals. By double clicking you should see this screen below. Allowing you to setup the steps within the approval element.

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9. Right click on the Step 1 element and hit the Property menu item.

10. Enter a subject and instructions that will appear for the approver. Then on the assignments tab, select an assignment option and fill in the details.

11. That is it. We can now click on the Save and close. A dialog will appear asking if you want to activate the configuration. Just click yes.

Next post we will see this in action.