Work Order Estimating and Budgets

What is this?

Before a major repair starts, the foreman can estimate how long it will take. Set the estimated time in hours or days on the work order. As the mechanic logs actual hours, the system tracks budget vs. actual so you can see if a job is running over before it finishes.

How to use it

Set the estimate

When creating or editing a work order, enter the estimated time (hours or days). This is the foreman's best guess for how long the job should take.

Track actual vs. estimated

As mechanics log labor, the actual hours accumulate on the work order. Compare the running total against the estimate. If a 16-hour job is at 14 hours and only half done, you know early.

Custom cost budget field

If your company wants to track estimated parts and sublet costs in addition to labor hours, a custom field for WO cost budget can be enabled by your Clue system admin. This gives you a full budget vs. actual view: estimated labor + estimated parts cost vs. actual totals.

The full details

• Works on: Web app
• Estimated time: Built-in field on work orders. Set in hours or days.
• Cost budget: Custom field. Ask your Clue admin to enable it if you need it.
• Actual tracking: Labor hours roll up automatically from timecard entries on the WO.
• Vista sync: Estimates and actuals carry through to Vista when WOs sync.

Tips

• Estimate every major repair. Even a rough number is better than nothing. It gives you a baseline to measure against.
• Review overruns weekly. If the same type of job consistently takes 2x the estimate, the estimate is wrong. Adjust it for next time.
• Use estimates for scheduling. A 40-hour engine rebuild blocks a bay for a week. Knowing that upfront helps the shop plan around it.