Generating Work Orders for non-clock based assets
This page explains how to schedule maintenance for assets that do not have clock readings — such as printers, computers, furniture, fire extinguishers, or any asset where time-based intervals are sufficient.
When to Use Time-Based-Only Scheduling
Not all assets have measurable usage. For many asset types, maintenance is simply due after a fixed period of calendar time:
| Asset Type | Typical Schedule |
|---|---|
| Portable appliances | PAT test every 12 months |
| Fire extinguishers | Annual inspection |
| Office furniture | Safety inspection every 2 years |
| Emergency lighting | Monthly functional test |
| IT equipment | Quarterly firmware review |
The Workflow
The workflow is the same three-step process used for consumption-based assets — create a Service Process, create a Service Plan, and generate work orders — but the Service Plan uses time-based Service Interval Units (Days, Weeks, Months, Years) instead of consumption-based ones (Miles, Kilometres, Running Hours).
No Asset Service Data configuration is required. You do not need to set Initial Clock, Est Clock/Year, or Last Clock Reading for time-based-only plans. The system calculates due dates entirely from the plan's start date and interval.
Example: PAT Testing Printers Every 6 Months
To schedule PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) for printers every 6 months, with the first service carried out immediately:
- Create a Service Process named "PAT Test" with appropriate procedures and a default priority.
- Deploy the Service Process as a Service Plan to all printer assets.
- Configure the Service Plan with Service Every = 6 Months.
- Check the Service Immediately option.
The Service Immediately option ensures a work order is created for the first run, rather than waiting 6 months for the first service to become due.
Tip: When deploying time-based service plans to a large number of assets, consider leaving "Service Immediately" unchecked to avoid generating a large batch of work orders all due on the same date. Instead, stagger the Start Date across different groups of assets (e.g., floor 1 starts in January, floor 2 in February) to spread the workload evenly.
Related Articles
- Generating Work Orders — How the system generates work orders
- Steps to Generate Work Orders — The steps involved in generating work orders
- Creating a Service Plan — How to create a service plan
- Service Interval Units — Available units for service intervals