Categories Management
Organize and classify maintenance work through comprehensive category management in True Tracker.
Overview
Categories Management allows administrators to create, organize, and manage work order categories, maintenance types, and classification systems that help streamline operations, improve reporting, and ensure consistent work categorization.
Accessing Categories Management
- Sign in with administrator privileges
- Navigate to Settings → Categories Management
- Or access through Admin Panel → Configuration → Categories
Note: Requires administrator or system configuration permissions.
Category Types
Work Order Categories
Maintenance Categories
- Preventive Maintenance
- Corrective Maintenance
- Emergency Repairs
- Inspections
- Installations
- Upgrades and Modifications
Equipment Categories
- Electrical Systems
- HVAC Systems
- Plumbing Systems
- Mechanical Equipment
- Safety Systems
- IT Equipment
Service Categories
- Routine Maintenance
- Breakdown Repairs
- Scheduled Inspections
- Compliance Checks
- Cleaning Services
- Contractor Services
Priority Categories
Urgency Levels
- Critical (Immediate response required)
- High (Within 4 hours)
- Medium (Within 24 hours)
- Low (Within 1 week)
- Scheduled (Planned maintenance)
Impact Categories
- Safety Critical
- Production Impact
- Compliance Required
- Cost Optimization
- Comfort/Convenience
Skill Categories
Technical Specializations
- Electrical
- Mechanical
- HVAC/R
- Plumbing
- Electronics
- Welding
- Carpentry
- Painting
Certification Categories
- Licensed Electrician
- Certified HVAC Technician
- Safety Certified
- Equipment Specific
- Vendor Certified
Creating Categories
Basic Category Setup
-
Access Category Creation
- Click "Add New Category" button
- Select category type from dropdown
-
Category Information
- Category Name: Clear, descriptive name
- Category Code: Unique identifier (e.g., ELEC, HVAC, MECH)
- Description: Detailed category description
- Category Type: Select primary type
-
Classification Settings
- Parent Category: Select if creating subcategory
- Category Level: Primary, Secondary, or Tertiary
- Color Code: Visual identification color
- Icon: Category icon for visual recognition
-
Operational Settings
- Default Priority: Standard priority for this category
- Estimated Duration: Typical time requirements
- Required Skills: Skills needed for this category
- Safety Requirements: Special safety considerations
-
Workflow Configuration
- Approval Required: Set approval requirements
- Documentation Required: Mandatory documentation
- Photo Requirements: Image documentation needs
- Completion Criteria: Category-specific completion rules
Advanced Configuration
Budget Settings
- Default cost estimates
- Budget categories
- Cost tracking requirements
- Approval thresholds
Resource Requirements
- Standard tool requirements
- Material specifications
- Personnel requirements
- Equipment needs
Compliance Settings
- Regulatory requirements
- Documentation standards
- Inspection requirements
- Certification needs
Category Hierarchy
Hierarchical Structure
Three-Level Hierarchy
Primary Category
├── Secondary Category
│ ├── Tertiary Category
│ └── Tertiary Category
└── Secondary Category
├── Tertiary Category
└── Tertiary Category
Example Structure
Electrical Systems
├── Power Distribution
│ ├── Main Panels
│ ├── Sub Panels
│ └── Circuit Breakers
├── Lighting Systems
│ ├── Interior Lighting
│ ├── Exterior Lighting
│ └── Emergency Lighting
└── Motor Controls
├── Motor Starters
├── Variable Frequency Drives
└── Control Panels
Category Relationships
Parent-Child Relationships
- Inherit properties from parent categories
- Override specific settings at child level
- Maintain consistency across hierarchy
- Simplify bulk operations
Cross-Category Relationships
- Related categories
- Alternative categories
- Prerequisite categories
- Dependent categories
Managing Categories
Editing Categories
-
Select Category
- Find category in the list or tree view
- Click "Edit" button or category name
-
Update Information
- Modify category details
- Change hierarchy relationships
- Update operational settings
- Adjust workflow configurations
-
Impact Assessment
- Review existing work orders using category
- Check reporting dependencies
- Assess user training needs
- Plan change communication
-
Save Changes
- Apply modifications
- Update related categories if needed
- Notify affected users
- Update documentation
Category Status Management
Active Categories
- Available for new work orders
- Visible in selection lists
- Full functionality enabled
- Reporting and analytics included
Inactive Categories
- Hidden from new work order creation
- Existing work orders retain category
- Historical data preserved
- Can be reactivated
Deprecated Categories
- Marked for future removal
- Warning messages for users
- Migration path to new categories
- Scheduled deactivation date
Archived Categories
- Permanently removed from active use
- Historical data preserved
- Read-only access for reporting
- Cannot be reactivated
Category Templates
Standard Templates
Industry-Standard Categories
- Manufacturing maintenance
- Facility management
- Healthcare facilities
- Educational institutions
- Retail operations
Compliance-Based Categories
- OSHA safety requirements
- EPA environmental compliance
- FDA regulations
- Industry-specific standards
Custom Templates
Creating Templates
- Define category structure
- Set default properties
- Configure workflows
- Test with sample data
- Document template usage
- Deploy to organization
Template Management
- Version control
- Template updates
- User access control
- Template sharing
Work Order Integration
Category Assignment
Automatic Assignment
- Rule-based category assignment
- Equipment-based categorization
- Location-based defaults
- Priority-based routing
Manual Assignment
- User selection during creation
- Category search and filtering
- Recent category suggestions
- Favorite category shortcuts
Category-Based Workflows
Approval Processes
- Category-specific approval chains
- Budget-based approvals
- Safety-critical workflows
- Compliance-required processes
Resource Allocation
- Skill-based technician assignment
- Tool and equipment requirements
- Material and parts allocation
- Contractor service routing
Reporting and Analytics
Category Performance Metrics
Work Order Statistics
- Volume by category
- Completion times
- Cost analysis
- Resource utilization
Trend Analysis
- Category growth patterns
- Seasonal variations
- Performance improvements
- Cost trends
Efficiency Metrics
- Category-specific KPIs
- Benchmark comparisons
- Best practice identification
- Improvement opportunities
Standard Reports
Category Summary Reports
- Work order counts by category
- Cost analysis by category
- Time analysis by category
- Resource utilization by category
Trend Reports
- Monthly category trends
- Year-over-year comparisons
- Seasonal pattern analysis
- Forecast projections
Performance Reports
- Category efficiency metrics
- Completion rate analysis
- Cost per category analysis
- Resource optimization reports
Integration Features
Asset Management Integration
Asset-Category Mapping
- Link assets to maintenance categories
- Automatic category suggestion
- Maintenance schedule integration
- Warranty and service tracking
Equipment-Specific Categories
- Manufacturer-specific categories
- Model-specific maintenance types
- Warranty-based categorization
- Service interval categories
Inventory Integration
Parts and Materials
- Category-specific inventory
- Automatic parts suggestions
- Stock level monitoring
- Procurement automation
Tool Requirements
- Category-specific tool lists
- Tool availability checking
- Calibration requirements
- Safety equipment needs
Mobile Category Management
Mobile Access
Category Selection
- Touch-friendly category picker
- Search and filter capabilities
- Recent category history
- Favorite category shortcuts
Category Information
- View category details
- Access work instructions
- Check resource requirements
- Review safety information
Best Practices
Category Design
Naming Conventions
- Clear, descriptive names
- Consistent terminology
- Avoid abbreviations
- Use standard industry terms
Hierarchy Design
- Logical grouping
- Balanced tree structure
- Avoid deep nesting
- Consider user workflow
Category Scope
- Specific enough for meaningful reporting
- General enough for practical use
- Avoid category proliferation
- Regular review and consolidation
Implementation Strategy
Phased Rollout
- Start with major categories
- Add subcategories gradually
- Train users on new categories
- Monitor usage and adjust
- Expand based on feedback
Change Management
- Communicate changes clearly
- Provide training and support
- Monitor adoption rates
- Gather user feedback
- Adjust based on usage patterns
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Category Selection Problems
- Verify category status (active/inactive)
- Check user permissions
- Review category hierarchy
- Confirm search functionality
Reporting Issues
- Check category assignments
- Verify data completeness
- Review report filters
- Confirm category mappings
Performance Problems
- Optimize category structure
- Reduce category depth
- Consolidate similar categories
- Improve search indexing
Maintenance Tasks
Regular Reviews
- Monthly usage analysis
- Quarterly category review
- Annual structure assessment
- Continuous improvement planning
Data Quality
- Category assignment accuracy
- Duplicate category identification
- Unused category cleanup
- Consistency verification
Getting Started
Initial Setup
-
Analyze Current Operations
- Review existing work types
- Identify common patterns
- Map to standard categories
- Plan hierarchy structure
-
Create Core Categories
- Start with major work types
- Add essential subcategories
- Configure basic settings
- Test with sample work orders
-
Train Users
- Explain category purpose
- Demonstrate selection process
- Provide category guidelines
- Monitor initial usage
-
Refine and Expand
- Analyze usage patterns
- Add missing categories
- Adjust hierarchy as needed
- Optimize for efficiency
Next Steps
After setting up categories:
- Configure location management for category-location relationships
- Set up user management with category-based permissions
- Review maintenance scheduling with category integration
- Explore reporting options for category analytics
Effective category management provides the foundation for organized maintenance operations, meaningful reporting, and efficient resource allocation throughout your True Tracker system.