BACK

Previous Page:
CBS Help - Scheduling Work

CBS Help - User Tips: Scheduling Jobs/Work  

Tips, Hints and General Information about Job/Work Scheduling

Abbreviations & Acronyms used in Job Scheduling
Yes, CBS uses both abbreviations and acronyms and we really make no apology for this approach - better to learn a simple 'shortcut' method of referring to things that could have rather long and technical names. With continuing use, it won't take long before you master them. Here are the ones that are used in Job Scheduling:

  • WI = Work Item

  • WO = Work Order

  • WDR = Work Docket Return

  • WDQ = Work Quality Return

  • WTL = Work Tracking List, sometimes referred to as the Work Schedule

    • Scheduling functionality
    There are two methods of performing scheduling
    [1] Fast Track Scheduling [FTS] - an automated approach
  • FTS enables the user to press one button that produces a PDF of a WO that is ready to print;

  • FTS is mainly suited to scheduling Prevent Maint work where there are no, or few, variables;

  • For FTS to work effectively, the general conditions for scheduling must have been applied [hyperlink to 'Condition Required for Scheduling'] and, in addition, the Maint Reqmt must be included in the 'Regular Set' [activated by selecting a checkbox on the Maint Reqmt DES].

    [2] Step-by-Step Scheduling [SbSS] - a manual approach
  • SbSS is used for scheduling maintenance work that requires the User to make decisions - ie, anything that is not Prevent Maint requires this approach;

  • SbSS Maint Reqmts are not included in the 'Regular Set'.

    Conditions Required for Scheduling
    Processes:

  • must be "Official" [establish hyperlink to explanation in Processes]

    • Assets: [establish hyperlink to explanation in Assets]
  • must be "Official";

  • must have the Maintenance Requirement established;

  • the Maint Reqmt must be 'Current'.

    • and, if the Maint Reqmt is to be included in Fast Track Scheduling:
  • the Maint Reqmt must be included in the 'Regular Set'.

    • Scheduling Period
    CBS uses a 'System Parameter' to identify the period that an enterprise will adopt as the 'scheduling window' - ie the number of days (from the immediate point in time, looking into the future) that will restrict the 'Regular Set' of asset maintenance requirements presented when the End-to-End button is pressed.
    Once this period is agreed with an enterprise, it is not something that is normally changed. However, if needed, your CBS Administrator or an identified enterprise 'Super User' will have this function included in their Profile and therfore be able to change the parameter.

    About the Job Scheduler [JSCH]
    The JSCH is the work space for staff who are involved in administering jobs/work. It allows the user to create Jobs and assign and issue resultant Work Orders and (on completion of the work) to capture details of (i) the work done; and (ii) work quality comments and rating, and then to complete and archive the Job as the official historical record.

  • JSCH provides a Filtered Search [FS] so that users can find existing records. However, if an enterprise desires to use Job Scheduling for more than one Department/Area, independantly of each other, settings for Users within each Department is required.


  • Users must specify their FS criteria on the "Settings" button and can store these settings on their CBS profile [establish hyperlink to How to Set User profile for Job Scheduling]. Once set, the Department is displayed on the top of the JSCH [establish hyperlink to How To Specify User Settings].

    • Filtered Search on JSCH
    A FS can be restricted in many ways by using different search criteria.

  • A basic search can be done according to dates (establish hyperlink to explanation about various dates used in the scheduling functionality) and sets of Job Stages (establish hyperlink to explanation about Job Stages).


  • A more advanced search can be performed on the advanced pane [the advanced pane options can be accessed by pressing the "v" button to drop down the advanced FS pane].


    • The result of the FS is presented on the lower part of the screen. A row is presented for:
  • the Job [blue text on a grey background];

  • each Work Item/Order contained within the Job [red text on white background].


    • Note: The WO row can be excluded by deselecting the "Show Work Items Row" checkbox on the FS. Is there are a large number of items that could be displayed in any particular search, eliminating the rows will make the search a little quicker.

    Display of FS results
    Data about the Job & WO's are presented in columns. In addition to the items that can be seen, other information can be viewed by clicking along the two horizontal scroll bars.
    Note: Tool Tips [TT's] are provided that define the headings on the columns. [establish hyperlink to TT info in Tips for using Oracle & CBS]

    Access to other scheduling functionality
    Access is available, by press of one button, directly to:

  • the Job Control Sheet [by pressing the JCS button];

  • the Work Item/ Work Order [by pressing the Work Item button];

  • the Work Docket Returns [by pressing the WDR's button].

    • Access to 'companion' functionality
    The JSCH also provides access to other functionality that would generally be considered 'companion' functionality to job scheduling. This is provided via R-Click options on the "Nav" [Navigation] button. This includes:

  • the Engineering Console;

  • the Work Tracking List;

  • the CBS complaint/issue handling system [RICH];

  • Assets;

  • Processes;

  • Contact records for customers, staff, contractors etc;

  • the CBS messaging system ['e' button].

    • Exporting data from JSCH
    Pre-set data from the displayed FS items can be exported in the form of a concatenated output that can then be copied and pasted into another program and used for analysis or to create reports [establish hyperlink to How to extract data].

    Pre-requisite referential data needed for Job Scheduling
    Part of setting up CBS for scheduling, includes the entry of referential data - that is, data about the enterprise that is required in the scheduling process. This includes the following:
    • OUs (or Departments) [establish hyperlink to OUs information]
    • OUPs (Positions within the enterprise heirarchy) [establish hyperlink to OUPs information];

    • Roles/Crafts (things that people undertake of part of their Position) [establish hyperlink to Roles information];

    • People and other Legal Entities (names of Staff & Contractors required within the work process) [establish hyperlink to People/LE information].

    Definitions of Job Stages:
    The Job Scheduler when finding by Stage and Period uses dates relevant to the specified stages:
    1. PLANNED JOBS: Finds Planned Jobs [with Target Period falling against search Period]
    -- DEFINITION OF PLANNED JOBS - Jobs with no Scheduled WOs [that is, all WOs do not have a Start Date] and the Job is not WIP, and is not completed, ended or Archived

    2. SCHEDULED JOBS: Finds Scheduled Jobs [with scheduled work period falling against search Period]
    -- DEFINITION OF SCHEDULED JOBS - jobs which are not WIP, Completed or Ended with one or more scheduled Work Orders

    3. WIP JOBS: Finds WIP Jobs [Period search criterion ignored]
    -- DEFINITION OF WIP JOBS: Job with at least one WO with Work Stage equal to "In Progress"

    4. COMPLETED JOBS: Finds Completed Jobs [Signed Off as considered as all work complete or with all Work Orders completed in search Period]
    -- SEARCH CRITERION: for “Work Completed” Jobs, finds Jobs "Signed Off as Complete" in nominated Period plus Jobs with all WOs with Work Stage = 'Completed' and with completed Date of the latest Completed WO in the specified Period

    5. ENDED JOBS: Finds Jobs [ended in search Period]
    -- SEARCH CRITERION: for “Ended” Jobs, finds Jobs with Ended DT in nominated Period
    -- DEFINITION OF ENDED JOBS: Ended Jobs are Jobs which are Finalised, Terminated or Cancelled

    6. ARCHIVED JOBS: Finds Jobs [archived in search Period]
    -- Finds Archived Jobs which were archived in the nominated Period search criterion

    7. UNDATED JOBS: Finds Jobs with no Target or Scheduled Period [Period search criterion ignored]

    Definition of dates used in the maintenance process
    A Manager is displayed with various information about maintenance which is automated from a series of dates nominated in CBS. The dates and information displayed are:
    Due Date:
  • This is entered on the Facility DES.

  • It is the date when maintenance on an asset falls due according to ‘normal’ procedural requirements.

    • Deadline Offset Date:
  • This is entered on the Facility DES.

  • It is the date at the end of a nominal period when, if the ‘normal’ maintenance is not carried out, the asset functioning could become problematic.

    • Target Date:
  • This appears on the Job Details form and automatically displays the “Due Date”.

  • The person scheduling the job (as opposed to the work) decides whether to accept the date or to change it to a more acceptable date, taking into account all activities such as other maintenance items, staff on leave etc., so this can be done quite a bit in advance of the work being carried out.
  • Whilst CBS allows the target date to be changed to later than the deadline date, this is not advisable as the deadline date indicates when the Facility must have the maintenance carried out to prevent issues arising.
    Scheduled Start Date/Time & Scheduled End Date/Time:
  • These dates are on the Work Item/Order.

  • They are entered by the person scheduling the work (as opposed to the job) who takes into account all activities such as other maintenance items, staff called to meetings or off sick etc.

    • Current Date:
  • The present date according to the time zone specified in CBS.

    • How CBS used the dates
    CBS uses the deadline date and the current date to produce information about whether the job is late (indicated as “Before Target”, “Before Deadline” or “Deadline Passed”).
    This is displayed:

  • on the Job Details form;

  • on the Engineering Console when the “Overdue” button is selected;

  • on the Job Scheduler in the column presenting Job/Work Status.

    • This information also automatically fills the field that indicates ‘slippage’. This is the number of days the maintenance work has been delayed since the deadline date until the Work Order is marked as ‘completed’). The assumption made in CBS is that, if the work has been assigned, it has been started.

    Job Status Definitions
    [details currently being constructed]

    Print Options on a Work Order Details currently being written

    Work Tracking usage [details currently being constructed]

    x