Managing Work Items
Work items help you track tasks, issues, and action items that need attention. Whether it's a maintenance task, a safety concern, or a process improvement, work items keep your team organized and accountable.
What is a Work Item?
A work item is any task, issue, or action that needs to be tracked and completed. Work items help you:
- Track tasks - Keep a list of things that need to be done
- Assign responsibility - Everyone knows who's working on what
- Set deadlines - Due dates keep work on schedule
- Monitor progress - See what's in progress, completed, or overdue
- Collaborate - Team members can comment and discuss
- Work offline - Create and update work items even without internet
Examples of work items:
- "Replace worn conveyor belt in Section B"
- "Investigate temperature spike on Boiler #3"
- "Update safety signage in loading dock"
- "Schedule quarterly pump maintenance"
Work Item Information
Each work item contains:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Title | Brief description of the work (e.g., "Replace air filter on Compressor 2") |
| Number | Unique identifier assigned automatically (e.g., "WI-1234") |
| Due Date | When the work needs to be completed |
| Status | Current state: Not Started, In Progress, Completed, or Cancelled |
| Priority | Urgency level: None, Low, Medium, or High |
Plus comments and discussion:
- Team members can add comments
- Reply to comments to create conversation threads
- Track who said what and when
Linked Readings
Work items can be linked to asset readings captured during operator rounds. This creates a direct connection between the observation or measurement that prompted the work and the task created to address it.
How Linking Works
- Many-to-many relationship: A single reading can trigger multiple work items (e.g., a high temperature reading might require both immediate cooling and a long-term pump replacement). Conversely, a single work item can be linked to multiple readings (e.g., a failing bearing causes abnormal readings on temperature, vibration, and pressure).
- Create from reading: When reviewing readings during or after a round, you can create a work item directly from an abnormal value. The reading is automatically linked.
- Link after creation: Supervisors can link existing work items to readings after the fact, connecting related data.
- Full traceability: When viewing a work item's details, you'll see all linked readings showing the asset, attribute, and captured value.
Viewing Linked Readings
When viewing a work item's details, you'll see a "Linked Readings" section showing:
- Asset name - Which equipment the reading was captured from
- Attribute measured - What was measured (e.g., "Temperature", "Vibration")
- Value captured - The actual reading value
- When captured - Timestamp of the reading
Creating a Work Item from a Reading
- During or after an operator round, review a reading
- Select "Create Work Item" from the reading detail
- Fill in the work item details (Title, Priority, etc.)
- The reading is automatically linked
- Save the work item
Linking an Existing Work Item to a Reading
- Open the work item detail view
- Select "Link Reading"
- Search for or browse to the reading
- Confirm the link
- The reading now appears in the work item's linked readings
Unlinking a Reading
- Open the work item detail view
- Find the linked reading you want to remove
- Select "Unlink"
- Confirm the action
- The reading is removed from the work item (the reading itself is not deleted)
Offline Support
Linking and unlinking readings works offline:
- Links are saved locally on your device
- Changes sync to the server when connectivity returns
- Standard conflict resolution applies (most recent change wins)
Viewing Work Items (List View)
Accessing Your Work Items
On the Web:
- Go to your organization's URL (e.g.,
blueprintpaper.cyzag.co) - Sign in if needed
- Click "Work Items" in the navigation menu
- You'll see a list of all work items
On Mobile:
- Open the Cyzag Blueprint app
- Sign in and select your organization
- Tap "Work Items"
- You'll see a scrollable list of all work items
What You See in the List
The work item list shows:
Work Items (23) [+ New]
┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 🔴 WI-1234 High │
│ Replace worn conveyor belt │
│ Due: Dec 20, 2025 • Status: In Progress │
└────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 🟡 WI-1233 Medium │
│ Investigate temperature spike │
│ Due: Dec 18, 2025 • Status: Not Started │
└────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ⚪ WI-1232 Low │
│ Update safety signage │
│ Due: Dec 25, 2025 • Status: Not Started │
└────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Each work item shows:
- Priority indicator - 🔴 High, 🟡 Medium, ⚪ Low
- Number - Unique identifier
- Title - What the work item is about
- Due Date - When it needs to be completed
- Status - Current state
Filtering and Sorting
Filter by Status:
- All - Show everything
- Active - Not Started and In Progress only
- Completed - Finished work items
- Cancelled - Work items that were cancelled
Sort by:
- Due Date - Soonest first (default)
- Priority - High priority first
- Created Date - Newest first
- Title - Alphabetical order
Search:
- Type in the search box to find work items by title or number
- Example: Type "conveyor" to find all conveyor-related items
Priority Colors
Work items are color-coded by priority:
- 🔴 High Priority - Urgent, needs immediate attention
- 🟡 Medium Priority - Important, but not urgent
- ⚪ Low Priority - Can be done when time permits
- ⚫ No Priority - Not prioritized yet
Creating a New Work Item
Step-by-Step: Create a Work Item
-
Open the Work Items list (see above)
-
Click or tap "+ New" or "Create Work Item"
-
Fill out the form:
Title (required)
- Brief description of the work
- Example: "Replace air filter on Compressor 2"
- Keep it clear and specific
Number (auto-generated)
- The system creates a unique number automatically
- Example: WI-1235
- You can't edit this
Due Date (optional)
- When the work should be completed
- Click the calendar icon to pick a date
- Leave blank if no deadline
Priority (required)
- None, Low, Medium, or High
- Choose based on urgency
- Default: None
Status (required)
- Not Started (default for new items)
- In Progress
- Completed
- Cancelled
-
Click or tap "Save"
-
Your work item is created!
Quick Create Tips
Good titles are specific:
- ✅ "Replace hydraulic hose on Press #3"
- ❌ "Fix press"
Set realistic due dates:
- Consider dependencies
- Account for parts availability
- Allow time for testing
Use priority wisely:
- Don't mark everything as High
- High = safety issues, equipment down, blocking others
- Medium = important but scheduled work
- Low = improvements, nice-to-haves
Creating Work Items Offline (Mobile)
You can create work items even without internet:
- Open the mobile app (offline mode)
- Tap "Work Items"
- Tap "+ New"
- Fill out the form
- Tap "Save"
- Work item is saved on your device
- When you're back online, it syncs automatically
While offline:
- The work item number shows as "Pending"
- A sync indicator appears on the item
- Once synced, you'll see the real work item number
Viewing Work Item Details (Detail View)
Opening a Work Item
From the work item list:
- Web: Click on the work item
- Mobile: Tap on the work item
You'll see the Detail View with all information and comments.
Detail View Layout
┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ← Back [Edit] [Delete] │
├────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ WI-1234 🔴 High │
│ Replace worn conveyor belt │
│ │
│ Status: In Progress │
│ Due Date: December 20, 2025 │
│ Priority: High │
│ │
│ Created: Dec 15, 2025 by John Smith │
│ Last Updated: Dec 16, 2025 │
│ │
├────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Comments (3) │
├────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Mike Johnson • 2 hours ago │
│ Ordered the replacement belt. Should │
│ arrive tomorrow. │
│ [Reply] │
│ │
│ ↳ Sarah Williams • 1 hour ago │
│ Great! I'll schedule the crew. │
│ │
│ John Smith • Yesterday │
│ Belt is showing significant wear. │
│ Recommend replacement before Friday. │
│ [Reply] │
│ │
├────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ [Add Comment] │
└────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Detail View Sections
Header:
- Work item number and title
- Priority indicator
- Edit and Delete buttons
Details:
- Status
- Due Date
- Priority level
- Created date and creator
- Last updated date
Comments Section:
- All comments in chronological order
- Replies are indented
- Who posted and when
- Reply button on each comment
Add Comment:
- Text box to add new comments
- Available at the bottom
Editing Work Items (Edit View)
How to Edit
- Open the work item (Detail View)
- Click or tap "Edit"
- You'll see the Edit View with all fields editable
- Make your changes
- Click or tap "Save"
- Or "Cancel" to discard changes
What You Can Edit
Title
- Click in the title field
- Type your changes
- Keep it clear and descriptive
Due Date
- Click the date field
- Choose a new date from calendar
- Or clear the date if no longer needed
Priority
- Click the dropdown
- Select: None, Low, Medium, or High
Status
- Click the dropdown
- Select: Not Started, In Progress, Completed, or Cancelled
Editing Tips
Updating Status:
- Change to "In Progress" when you start work
- Change to "Completed" when finished
- Don't forget to update - helps everyone track progress
Adjusting Due Dates:
- If work is delayed, update the due date
- Add a comment explaining why
- Better to adjust than miss a deadline silently
Changing Priority:
- Re-prioritize as situations change
- Emergency work becomes High priority
- Completed work priority doesn't matter
Editing Offline (Mobile)
You can edit work items offline:
- Open the work item
- Tap "Edit"
- Make changes
- Tap "Save"
- Changes saved on device with sync indicator
- Syncs automatically when back online
Important: If someone else edited the same work item while you were offline, the most recent change wins when you sync.
Deleting Work Items
How to Delete
- Open the work item (Detail View)
- Click or tap "Delete"
- Confirm deletion
- Work item is permanently deleted
Warning: Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. All comments are also deleted.
When to Delete vs Cancel
Delete when:
- Work item was created by mistake
- Duplicate work item
- No longer relevant and never was worked on
Cancel (change status) when:
- Work was planned but no longer needed
- Work was superseded by something else
- Want to keep history of why it was cancelled
Best practice: Usually better to Cancel (change status) than Delete. This keeps a record.
Deleting Offline (Mobile)
You can delete work items offline:
- Deletion is saved on device
- Work item disappears from your list
- Deletion syncs when back online
- Cannot undo after syncing!
Adding Comments
Comments help your team communicate about work items.
How to Add a Comment
- Open the work item (Detail View)
- Scroll to the "Add Comment" section at the bottom
- Click or tap in the text box
- Type your comment
- Click or tap "Post" or "Add Comment"
- Your comment appears immediately
What to Comment
Good comments:
- ✅ "Ordered replacement part, arrives Dec 20"
- ✅ "Found root cause - worn seal on pump"
- ✅ "Completed work and tested. All good!"
- ✅ "Need to reschedule - waiting on parts"
Less useful:
- ❌ "OK" (too vague)
- ❌ "Same" (what does this mean?)
- ❌ "+1" (just agree with words)
Comment Information
Each comment shows:
- Who - Name of the person who commented
- When - How long ago (e.g., "2 hours ago", "Yesterday")
- What - The comment text
Adding Comments Offline (Mobile)
You can add comments even offline:
- Open the work item
- Add your comment
- Tap "Post"
- Comment saves with sync indicator
- When back online, comment syncs automatically
While offline:
- Your comment appears immediately
- A sync icon shows it's not uploaded yet
- Order is preserved when syncing
Replying to Comments (Threading)
Replies create conversation threads, making discussions easier to follow.
How to Reply
- Open the work item (Detail View)
- Find the comment you want to reply to
- Click or tap "Reply"
- Type your reply in the reply box
- Click or tap "Post Reply"
- Your reply appears indented under the original comment
Reply Example
Mike Johnson • 2 hours ago
Ordered the replacement belt. Should arrive tomorrow.
[Reply]
↳ Sarah Williams • 1 hour ago
Great! I'll schedule the crew for installation.
[Reply]
↳ Mike Johnson • 30 minutes ago
Belt arrived! Ready for install.
[Reply]
Benefits of threading:
- Keeps related comments together
- Easy to follow conversations
- Context is clear
Reply Best Practices
Do:
- Reply directly to the relevant comment
- Keep the conversation on topic
- Use @mentions if supported (future feature)
Don't:
- Start a new top-level comment when replying
- Reply to the wrong comment
- Create deep threads (reply to replies to replies)
Replying Offline (Mobile)
You can reply to comments offline:
- Reply saves on device
- Appears indented under original comment
- Syncs when back online
- Threading is preserved
Working Offline with Work Items
The mobile app is designed for offline work. Here's what you can do:
Offline Capabilities
View Work Items
- See all previously synced work items
- View details
- Read comments and replies
- No internet required
Create Work Items
- Create new work items offline
- Number shows as "Pending" until synced
- All details saved on device
Edit Work Items
- Update status, priority, due date
- Changes saved locally
- Syncs when back online
Delete Work Items
- Mark for deletion offline
- Removed from your view
- Deletion syncs later
Add Comments
- Add comments and replies offline
- Saved on device with sync indicator
- Uploads when connection restored
Cannot do offline:
- See new work items created by others
- See updates made by others
- Guarantee no conflicts (rare)
Sync Behavior
Automatic Sync:
- Syncs in background every 15 minutes (configurable)
- Syncs when you open the app
- Syncs when you return from offline to online
Manual Sync:
- Open menu (☰)
- Tap "Sync Now"
- Wait for sync to complete
Sync Indicators:
- 🔴 Offline - No connection
- 🟡 Syncing - Uploading changes
- 🟢 Online - Everything synced
- ⚠️ Sync Issue - Problem syncing
Conflict Resolution
If you and a coworker edit the same work item offline:
Most recent change wins:
- Server compares timestamps
- Newer edit is kept
- You see a notification if your change was overwritten
- Rare in practice - usually different people work on different items
To avoid conflicts:
- Communicate with your team
- Don't edit work items others are working on
- Sync frequently
- Add comments instead of changing fields
Organizing Your Work
Using Status Effectively
Not Started:
- Work item is created but not begun
- Waiting for resources or approval
- In the backlog
In Progress:
- Someone is actively working on it
- Update to this status when you start
- Signals to others: "I'm on it"
Completed:
- Work is finished
- Testing is done
- Ready to close
Cancelled:
- Work won't be done
- Add a comment explaining why
- Keeps history without cluttering active list
Priority Guidelines
High Priority:
- Safety issues
- Equipment failure (production down)
- Blocking other work
- Regulatory deadlines
Medium Priority:
- Scheduled maintenance
- Non-critical repairs
- Process improvements
- Quality issues
Low Priority:
- Nice-to-have improvements
- Cosmetic issues
- Long-term projects
- Can wait for slow periods
No Priority:
- Just created, not evaluated yet
- Parking lot ideas
Due Date Strategies
Set due dates for:
- Compliance deadlines
- Scheduled maintenance
- Coordinated work (multiple trades)
- Blocking other projects
Skip due dates for:
- Parking lot ideas
- When-time-permits work
- Ongoing monitoring tasks
Common Scenarios
Scenario 1: Equipment Breakdown
-
Create work item immediately
- Title: "Conveyor motor failure - Line 3"
- Priority: High
- Status: Not Started
- Due Date: Today
-
Assign and update
- Add comment: "Motor bearing seized. Mike investigating."
- Change status to: In Progress
-
Track progress with comments
- "Ordered replacement motor, arrives 2pm"
- "Motor installed, testing now"
- "Testing complete, line back in operation"
-
Close when done
- Change status to: Completed
- Add final comment: "Completed. Ran for 2 hours, no issues."
Scenario 2: Planned Maintenance
-
Create work item in advance
- Title: "Quarterly inspection - Boiler #2"
- Priority: Medium
- Due Date: Next Friday
- Status: Not Started
-
Prepare with comments
- "Checklist attached"
- "Parts ordered"
- "Scheduled for 6am Friday"
-
Execute and document
- Change to In Progress Friday morning
- Add comments during inspection
- "Found worn gasket, replaced"
- "Pressure test passed"
-
Complete
- Change status to Completed
- "All items on checklist completed. Next inspection due March 2026."
Scenario 3: Safety Concern
-
Report immediately
- Title: "Loose railing on Platform B"
- Priority: High
- Status: Not Started
- Add photo if possible (future feature)
-
Communicate
- Comment: "Barricaded area with caution tape"
- Comment: "Maintenance notified"
-
Track resolution
- Change to In Progress when work starts
- "Welding railing now"
- "Weld inspected and approved"
-
Close
- Status: Completed
- "Repair complete. Barricade removed. Area safe."
Scenario 4: Team Discussion Needed
-
Create work item
- Title: "Evaluate new conveyor system"
- Priority: Low
- No due date
- Status: Not Started
-
Gather input via comments
- "Anyone have experience with Brand X conveyors?"
- Reply: "We used them at my old job, very reliable"
- Reply: "Brand Y is cheaper but noisier"
-
Make decision
- "Team consensus: go with Brand X"
- "Sarah will get quotes"
-
Track implementation
- Create separate work items for next steps
- Close this one or change to Completed
Tips and Best Practices
For Everyone
- Keep titles clear - Future you will thank you
- Update status regularly - Helps team coordinate
- Comment with updates - Keeps everyone informed
- Set realistic due dates - Better to finish early than late
- Sync before going offline - Get latest work items
- Use priority wisely - Not everything is High
For Team Leads
- Review daily - Check status of all active items
- Follow up on overdue - Don't let things slip
- Balance priorities - Don't overload High priority
- Encourage commenting - Communication is key
- Archive completed work - Keep active list manageable
For Operators
- Check your work items at shift start - Know what's expected
- Update as you go - Don't wait until end of shift
- Add photos in comments (future) - Show before/after
- Ask questions in comments - Don't assume
- Mark complete when done - Keep status current
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I assign work items to specific people? A: Currently no, but you can mention people in comments. User assignment is coming in a future release.
Q: Can I attach photos or documents? A: Not yet, but file attachments are planned for a future release.
Q: How do I see only my work items? A: Currently all work items are visible to everyone. Personal filters coming soon.
Q: Can I get notified when someone comments? A: Email notifications for comments are coming in a future release.
Q: What happens if I delete a work item by mistake? A: Deletion is permanent - the work item and all comments are lost. Be careful! Consider using "Cancelled" status instead.
Q: Can I restore a deleted work item? A: No. Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.
Q: How far back does the mobile app sync work items? A: The app syncs all active work items (Not Started and In Progress) and completed items from the last 30 days.
Q: Can I export work items to Excel? A: Not yet, but data export is planned for a future release.
Q: What's the difference between Priority and Status? A: Priority = how urgent (High, Medium, Low). Status = what stage (Not Started, In Progress, Completed).
Q: Can I set recurring work items? A: Not yet. For now, create a new work item each time. Recurring work items are planned.
Need Help?
- Can't create a work item? Check that you have permission and that required fields are filled
- Work item not syncing? Check your internet connection and try manual sync
- Accidentally deleted a work item? Unfortunately, deletion is permanent
- Need to track specific types of work? See Operator Rounds for scheduled inspections
- Questions about offline mode? All operations work offline and sync when connectivity returns
What's Next?
Now that you know how to use work items:
- Learn about Operator Rounds - Scheduled inspection workflows
- Capture Asset Readings - Record equipment measurements
- Explore the Tutorial - See a complete example