Job lifecycle
A job moves through a sequence of states from the moment it is added to a Work Order to the moment it is closed. Understanding the job lifecycle helps you know what actions are available at each stage, why a job must be closed before the Work Order can close, and what happens when a job is reopened.
This article describes the conceptual stages. For the specific status values and permitted transitions, see Job status values (reference — link pending).
The stages of a job
Added — the job exists but work has not started
A job has been added to the Work Order. It may have a job type, notes, or other details, but no technician has been assigned and no work has begun. The job is in its initial open state.
At this stage you can:
Edit job details (job type, VMRS code, notes)
Assign a technician
Request parts in advance of starting work
In Progress — the job is being worked on
A technician is assigned and work has started. Labor and parts postings are being added to the job. The job's cost total grows as postings are recorded.
At this stage you can:
Post labor hours
Post parts, tires, and miscellaneous charges
Add notes, including complaint, cause, and correction (3C notes)
Request additional parts
A job remains In Progress until a technician or supervisor marks it complete.
Closed — the job is complete
All work has been recorded and the job has been marked complete. The job's cost total is final, and no further postings can be added unless the job is reopened.
A closed job contributes its cost to the Work Order total. When all jobs on a Work Order are closed, the Work Order becomes eligible for closure.
Note: The exact names of job statuses may differ from what you see in your organization if your administrator has configured custom statuses. See Job status values (reference — link pending) for confirmed label names.
How jobs relate to Work Order closure
A Work Order can only be closed after every job on it is closed. This is by design — the Work Order's cost record is only complete when all work is accounted for.
If a Work Order will not close and you are not sure why, check whether any jobs are still open. See Work Order won't close for a step-by-step diagnostic.
Closing a job
Closing a job confirms that the work is recorded and complete. The specific action depends on your role and the Work Order configuration at your organization — technicians may close their own jobs, or a supervisor may review and close on their behalf.
For instructions, see Close or reopen a job (how-to — link pending).
Reopening a closed job
If corrections are needed after a job is closed — additional labor to record, a posting error to fix, or work that turned out to be incomplete — a closed job can be reopened. Reopening returns the job to an active state and allows new postings.
Reopening a job also reopens the parent Work Order if it had already moved to Ready for Review. This ensures the Work Order's status accurately reflects whether all work is truly complete.
After corrections are made, close the job again and, if needed, close the Work Order.
For instructions, see Close or reopen a job (how-to — link pending).