State Model
- Shane Hullinger
- Maximus Hullinger
State Model Overview
In the context of utility work order management, State or Status refers to a specific label or indicator that tracks the current state or progression of a Work order, or an individual task/item within that order. It is a dynamic marker providing immediate insight into where a Work Order is in its lifecycle—from initiation through to completion, including any potential interruptions or modifications.
Utilizing State/Status in Daily Operations:
Field Technicians/Workers:
Priority Understanding: Recognize the urgency of tasks labeled as Urgent or Pending.
Task Organization: Identify the current state of tasks whether they are In Progress, Pending, or Completed.
Progress Update: Update the status post-task or when unforeseen challenges arise.
Dispatchers and Schedulers:
Task Assignment: Allocate tasks based on their Urgency and Status.
Progress Monitoring: Keep track of ongoing tasks and pinpoint any operational slowdowns.
Rescheduling: Reallocate resources and adjust schedules as necessary.
Management and Supervisors:
Performance Evaluation: Assess efficiency and productivity through status analysis.
Resource Decision: Deploy additional resources in response to statuses signaling the need.
Operational Reporting: Create reports reflecting the real-time status of work orders.
Customer Service Representatives (CSRs):
Customer Updates: Provide up-to-the-minute progress reports to customers.
Issue Handling: Communicate any status-related work order issues or delays.
Example State/Status Labels:
The State Model encompasses several built-in common status values, each signifying a different stage in the workflow.
Ready (To Schedule)
Pending (Awaiting prerequisites)
Scheduled (Assigned for completion)
Dispatched (Informed or transferred to a mobile device)
En-Route / Travel (Heading to the job site)
On Site / In Progress / Working (Actively engaged in the task)
Completed (Task finished)
Rejected (Unable to perform the task)
Cancelled (No longer active in the system)
Incomplete (Unfinished due to external factors)
Field Complete (Used alternatively for 'Completed')
Acknowledged (Job acceptance confirmed)
Delayed/Suspended (Temporarily on hold)
This system ensures a standardized approach to tracking and managing the diverse array of tasks within the utility work environment.
Understanding Status Transitions
Within the workflow process, Status Transitions are essential in providing structure and ensuring that work follows a predefined path, reflecting the actual progression of tasks. This concept is critical as it enforces logical sequences—for example, it is generally expected that a job marked as New should not jump to Completed without progressing through Scheduled, Dispatched, and In-Progress statuses. Such transitions establish a standardized flow, which prevents procedural oversights and supports the systematic tracking of work order lifecycles.
It is beneficial to map out these transitions with flow charts in the planning stages to ensure a clear understanding of the workflow. This visualization aids in defining the necessary sequence of statuses, creating a foundation for consistent and logical updates throughout the task lifecycle.
State Model Configuration
View State Models
Log In to EpochField Web Suite. See Log In to EpochField Web Suite for guidance.
Select Open under EpochField Administrator.
Click the State Model tab.
Use the Search feature by typing in the Search text box to filter existing Process Cards.
Click the Transitions
dropdown menu to view allowed transitions.
Add State Model Process
Log In to EpochField Web Suite. See Log In to EpochField Web Suite for guidance.
Select Open under EpochField Administrator.
Click Add.
Fill out the Create New Process fields as necessary.
Process Work Order Type
Only one State Model Process can be defined for all Schedule Items, regardless of Work Order Type. If a Schedule Item Type is already configured, this option will default to Work Order Type and not be editable.
Process Name: Name of the process
Process Description: Description of the process
Click Next: State Configuration.
Click Add to add additional State Configurations.
Fill out the State Configuration fields as necessary.
Name: how the status will be displayed to end users.
Description: details on what the status represents.
State Type: categorize the status for appropriate background processing.
Color: set the color for each status using a color slider, hex codes, RGBA values, or HSVA values.
All default statuses must be included, but not all need to be actively used.
New
Scheduled
Dispatched
In-Progress
Complete
Delayed
Deleted
Click Save.
Click Next: Transition Configuration.
Click Add to begin creating a new transition within the Transition Configuration box.
Edit the State and Next State fields as necessary.
The State column represents the current status.
The Next State column represents the status to which it can change.
Continue to add entries to map out all permissible transitions between statuses. Ensure each transition reflects the operational workflow and rules for status updates.
Click Save.
Click Next: Save Process.
Edit State Model Process
A State Model Process must be added for this process. See Add State Model Process for guidance.
Log In to EpochField Web Suite. See Log In to EpochField Web Suite for guidance.
Select Open under EpochField Administrator.
Click on the three dots of the Work Order Process to edit.
Click
Edit.
Edit the configuration fields as necessary.
Click Update Process.
Copy State Model Process
A State Model Process must be added for this process. See Add State Model Process for guidance.
Log In to EpochField Web Suite. See Log In to EpochField Web Suite for guidance.
Select Open under EpochField Administrator.
Click on the three dots of the Work Order Process to copy.
Click
Copy.
A copy of the State Model Process will automatically be created.
Work Order Type Configuration
After crafting your State Model Process, the next step is to integrate it into the practical workflow by applying it to the relevant Work Order Type. This integration ensures that the Work Orders adhere to the designated path, reflecting the structured progression as defined by the State Model. By linking the process to the Work Order Type, you effectively guide the order through the established statuses, from initiation to completion.
Log In to EpochField Web Suite. See Log In to EpochField Web Suite for guidance.
Select Open under EpochField Workflow Builder.
Click
Click the State Process dropdown.
Ensure the correct State Model Process is chosen to align with your operational workflow for each Work Order Type. This step is vital to maintain consistency and efficiency in task progression.
Select the appropriate State Model Process to apply. Remember, only one process can be linked to a Work Order Type.
Click Save.
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