Estimates can be called anything in the system - e.g. Estimate, Estimate Request, etc.  An estimated work order is simply a work order with a Purpose called "Estimate" (or something similar). Meaning, the purpose of the work order is so that someone creates a scope and cost estimate. The work order status (e.g Pending Proposal from Supplier) will change throughout the processing of the estimate as parts and budgets are pulled together. However, the purpose will always remain - Estimate.


An example, let's say an estimate is wanted by the school site for a small lab to be built in the library. The work order will be submitted with a Purpose of 'Estimate" versus Routine Repair.  The initial status of the work order will likely be "Approved" (by the site) which causes it to hit the Receive in-box at Maintenance. The Maintenance Front office upon seeing that it is an Estimate request, will forward the work order (via the “Forward” button to the responsible supervisor for the work being requested. The status and worker would be updated by the front office to something appropriate (e.g. status = Pending Supervisor Review, worker = John Doe).


The Estimate would then be routed between the various individuals to secure the budget codes, material costs, labor costs etc. Upon final collection of all needed data points, adding of attachments to the work order itself, the supervisor could then forward the work order to the requestor (i.e. principal) for their approval. If approved, the Supervisor would then go to the original estimated work order, and “Duplicate” it. By duplicating the work order, it creates a project, where the estimate serves as the parent work order, and all work orders created under it via the duplicate button will be associated to the parent/estimate work order.


To set a Purpose for use in processing Estimates: from the Manage menu: Manage > Work Order Choices > Purpose. Create a Purpose called 'Estimate Request" and check the box “Is Estimate” and Insert to save. 


To convert an Estimate, click “Duplicate” which creates the child WO to the estimate. Then close the estimate WO and use new duplicated child WO as the functioning WO for all work.