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Understanding Continued Items in Work Orders

This article provides a conceptual overview of how Continued Items function, how they support regulatory and operational workflows, and what to consider when using them.

In EBIS, Continued Items (also referred to as deferred or carried-forward discrepancies) allow maintenance teams to track open issues across multiple Work Orders. When a discrepancy is not resolved or completed during a visit, it can be flagged as continued, preserving its history and allowing it to carry forward into future work.

This article provides a conceptual overview of how Continued Items function, how they support regulatory and operational workflows, and what to consider when using them.

 

What Is a Continued Item?

A Continued Item is any Work Order item (e.g., discrepancy, task) that is:

  • Status marked as Continued during a maintenance event
  • Intentionally carried forward to be addressed in a future Work Order

EBIS tracks the continued status and links it back to its original occurrence for historical traceability.

📘 Continued Items maintain original details such as discrepancy text, date opened, original Work Order number, and technician notes.

 

When and Why to Use Continued Items

Use Continued Items when:

  • A customer or regulatory body requires full documentation of unresolved discrepancies
  • A repair could not be completed during the current visit (e.g., waiting on parts, time limitations)
  • Maintenance planning or prioritization shifts a task to a future event

Benefits include:

  • Maintaining a clear, auditable chain of work
  • Ensuring no open issues are lost between visits
  • Reducing duplicate data entry for recurring issues

⚠️ Continued Items are distinct from "cancelled" or "closed" items. They remain open and visible until resolved.

 

What Carries Forward in a Continued Item

When an item is flagged as Continued and brought into a new Work Order:

  • The discrepancy text carries forward
  • Any corrective actions or notes already entered are preserved
  • The original Work Order number is referenced
  • The item is marked as "Continued from W.O. # [####]"

This ensures historical continuity while allowing new work to be documented independently.

 

What Does Not Carry Forward in a Continued Item

While much of the core history is preserved, certain fields do not carry forward when a continued item is added to a new Work Order:

  • Labor assignments (technician hours and tracking reset)
  • Part fulfillment status (any picked or installed parts must be re-added if needed)
  • Completion status — the item remains in an open Continued status until manually moved to a new Work Order.
  • Date completed or sign-off history
  • Billing records — charges from the previous W.O. are not duplicated

This ensures the new Work Order reflects the most up-to-date activity while keeping the link to its source intact.

 

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Keywords: Continued Items, Deferred Maintenance, Carried Forward, EBIS Work Order Tracking, Maintenance History Audience: Maintenance Coordinators, Compliance Auditors, Admins, Inspectors Article Type: Conceptual / Operational Overview