Patent ID: 7346531

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for managing a complex work order, comprising indicating a work order as a complex work order; including a set of N common fields in the complex work order that identify features of the complex work order, where N is >1; selecting from a database containing records of ordinary orders a set of M member sub-orders for the complex work order, where M is >1, the record of an ordinary order having an identifier and information for the ordinary order and each member sub-order having an identifier for the member sub-order and further having a set of Q fields containing information for the member sub-order, the selected member sub-orders having an identifier and information that is the same as a respective ordinary order in the data base, at least one of the N common fields,the set M member sub-orders, the set of P precedence criteria and the set of Q specific fields are modifiable; and relating the plurality of member sub-orders by a set of P precedence criteria, where P is >0, the precedence criteria identifying a predecessor sub-order to be started or completed prior to starting the member sub-order.