Maintenance and Engineering

Work Order Management and Backlog Control

Work orders are the backbone of maintenance management, recording what is done, by whom and at what cost. This course covers work order management: work requests, prioritisation, work order types, planning and approval, closing with good data, backlog measurement and control, and using work order data for improvement.

5 days Classroom or live online English

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Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

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Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Poor work order discipline leads to lost history, unclear priorities and growing backlogs. You will learn to manage maintenance work systematically.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

Work order exercises, prioritisation workshops, backlog analysis and CMMS demonstrations.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Design work request and work order processes
Prioritise maintenance work consistently
Plan and approve work orders
Close work orders with useful data
Measure and control maintenance backlog
Use work order history for improvement

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

Maintenance planners and schedulers
Maintenance supervisors
CMMS administrators
Maintenance managers
Reliability engineers

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Process design
Prioritisation
Backlog management
Data quality
Continuous improvement

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Work Management

09:00–10:08Work order life cycle
10:08–11:00Roles
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Roles (continued)
11:45–12:53Common problems
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 2Requests and Priorities

09:00–10:08Work requests
10:08–11:00Priority matrices
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Priority matrices (continued)
11:45–12:53Emergency work
12:53–14:00Workshop

Day 3Planning and Approval

09:00–10:08Planning work orders
10:08–11:00Approvals
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Approvals (continued)
11:45–12:53Scheduling links
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 4Closing and Data

09:00–10:08Failure codes
10:08–11:00Labour and materials
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Labour and materials (continued)
11:45–12:53Feedback
12:53–14:00Case study

Day 5Backlog

09:00–10:08Backlog measurement
10:08–11:00Control
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Control (continued)
11:45–12:53Improvement
12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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