MaintainX Core Workflow A: Work Order Lifecycle

Overview

Master the complete work order lifecycle in MaintainX -- from creation through completion. Work orders are the core unit of maintenance operations.

Prerequisites

• Completed maintainx-install-auth setup
• MAINTAINX_API_KEY environment variable configured
• MaintainX account with work order permissions

Status Transition Flow

OPEN ──→ IN_PROGRESS ──→ COMPLETED ──→ CLOSED
  │           │               ↑
  │           ↓               │
  │        ON_HOLD ───────────┘
  │
  └──→ CLOSED (cancelled)

Instructions

Step 1: Create a Work Order

import { MaintainXClient } from './maintainx/client';

const client = new MaintainXClient();

// Create a corrective work order
const { data: wo } = await client.createWorkOrder({
  title: 'Pump Station #3 - Seal Leak Repair',
  description: 'Detected water leak at the mechanical seal. Needs immediate attention.',
  priority: 'HIGH',
  status: 'OPEN',
  assignees: [{ type: 'USER', id: 4521 }],
  assetId: 8901,
  locationId: 2345,
  dueDate: '2026-03-21T17:00:00Z',
  categories: ['CORRECTIVE'],
});

console.log(`Work order #${wo.id} created`);

Step 2: Update Status Through Lifecycle

// Technician starts work
await client.updateWorkOrder(wo.id, {
  status: 'IN_PROGRESS',
});

// Put on hold (waiting for parts)
await client.updateWorkOrder(wo.id, {
  status: 'ON_HOLD',
  onHoldReason: 'Waiting for replacement seal kit from supplier',
});

// Resume and complete
await client.updateWorkOrder(wo.id, {
  status: 'IN_PROGRESS',
});

await client.updateWorkOrder(wo.id, {
  status: 'COMPLETED',
  completionNotes: 'Replaced mechanical seal. Tested for 30 min with no leaks.',
});

Step 3: Query Work Orders

// Fetch open work orders sorted by priority
const { data: openOrders } = await client.getWorkOrders({
  status: 'OPEN',
  limit: 25,
});

for (const order of openOrders.workOrders) {
  console.log(`#${order.id} [${order.priority}] ${order.title}`);
}

// Paginate through all IN_PROGRESS orders
async function getAllInProgress() {
  const allOrders = [];
  let cursor: string | undefined;

  do {
    const { data } = await client.getWorkOrders({
      status: 'IN_PROGRESS',
      limit: 100,
      cursor,
    });
    allOrders.push(...data.workOrders);
    cursor = data.cursor;
  } while (cursor);

  return allOrders;
}

Step 4: Add Comments and Attachments

// Add a technician note
await client.request('POST', `/workorders/${wo.id}/comments`, {
  body: 'Arrived on site. Isolating pump before disassembly.',
});

// Add a completion photo (URL-based)
await client.request('POST', `/workorders/${wo.id}/files`, {
  url: 'https://storage.example.com/photos/seal-repair-complete.jpg',
  name: 'seal-repair-complete.jpg',
});

Step 5: Assign to Teams

// Assign to a team instead of individual
const { data: teams } = await client.request('GET', '/teams');
const mechTeam = teams.teams.find((t: any) => t.name === 'Mechanical');

await client.updateWorkOrder(wo.id, {
  assignees: [{ type: 'TEAM', id: mechTeam.id }],
});

Output

• Work orders created with full metadata (title, description, priority, assignees, asset, location)
• Status transitions executed through the complete lifecycle
• Paginated query results for filtering work orders
• Comments and files attached to work orders

Error Handling

Resources

• MaintainX API Reference
• Work Orders Help
• Complete a Work Order

Next Steps

For asset and location management, see maintainx-core-workflow-b.

Examples

Bulk-create preventive maintenance work orders:

const pmSchedule = [
  { title: 'Weekly HVAC Filter Check', priority: 'LOW', categories: ['PREVENTIVE'] },
  { title: 'Monthly Fire Extinguisher Inspection', priority: 'MEDIUM', categories: ['PREVENTIVE'] },
  { title: 'Quarterly Elevator Safety Audit', priority: 'HIGH', categories: ['PREVENTIVE'] },
];

for (const pm of pmSchedule) {
  const { data } = await client.createWorkOrder(pm);
  console.log(`PM created: #${data.id} - ${data.title}`);
}

Filter work orders by date range:

curl -s "https://api.getmaintainx.com/v1/workorders?createdAtGte=2026-03-01T00:00:00Z&createdAtLte=2026-03-31T23:59:59Z&limit=50" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MAINTAINX_API_KEY" | jq '.workOrders | length'