Maintenance Work Requests and Work Orders are related but serve different purposes in the maintenance management process:
Maintenance Work Request: This is the initial step where anyone within an organization can report a maintenance issue or request maintenance work to be done. Work Requests are typically submitted by non-maintenance staff, such as employees who notice a problem. They are used to initiate the maintenance process and determine whether the issue requires action.
Work Order: A Work Order is a more detailed and formal document. Maintenance managers or supervisors typically generate it based on approved Work Requests. Work Orders contain specific instructions for maintenance technicians, including details like the scope of work, materials needed, scheduling, and cost estimates. They are used to assign and track the actual maintenance work.
In summary, Work Requests are the starting point, while Work Orders are the formalized documents that guide and track the execution of maintenance tasks.