From your experience, what are the pros and cons of Maximo Workflow (7.6.1.2)?


Related: Moving away from workflow
#Maximo
#AssetandFacilitiesManagement

This is an interested question you pose.   Firstly I'd like to know what this is being put against?

Now from my standpoint the con's are around the inherit limitations of the product:
Cons:

• Not able to reassign in bulk existing assignments when someone goes on leave
• Complicated solutions require Java or automation scripts
• Not able to accept user typing input i.e. fill out this field as part of the popup
• Does not like changing to a status that it is already at i.e. you say change to COMP, yet the work order is already at COMP

Pros:

• Able to solve all above using Java or automation scripts
• Able to have parallel WF's running
• Heck there's probably much more....

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Craig Kokay,
Lead Senior Maximo/IoT Consultant
ISW
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Ph: 0411-682-040
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Thanks Craig.

Regarding your question: "What this is being put against?" (ie. What would be the alternatives to workflow?)

As a novice, I suppose I just wondered if automation scripts (in conjunction with the Change Status action) could do some of the things we do with workflow, but better.

For example, I think there are some new Java methods in 7.6.1.1 and 7.6.1.2. And I wondered if they could be used to do workflow-like things:
1. service.webclientsession() (7.6.1.1)
2. service.openURL(String url, boolean newWindow) (7.6.1.2)
3. service.launchDialog(String dialogId) (7.6.1.2)

But like I said, I don't have much experience with workflow or automation scripts. So I thought I'd ask.

Cheers!
#AssetandFacilitiesManagement
#Maximo

I suppose you could say that it can, but I'd say that automation script supports the complex bits where WF fall short.  You have to look at what your designing and the level of control.

To me, WF is about enforcing business logic usually for approval purposes (but limited to) as it provides a canvas to layout that logic supported by other elements of Maximo.

One downfall at times of automation scripts is being able to control what order/when they get fired.  You can also have stateless automation scripts specifically to be called on by WF such as action scripts.

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===============================
Craig Kokay,
Lead Senior Maximo/IoT Consultant
ISW
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Ph: 0411-682-040
=================================
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Original Message:
Sent: Wed January 27, 2021 10:15 PM
From: User1971
Subject: Workflow: pros and cons?

Thanks Craig.

Regarding your question: "What this is being put against?"

As a novice, I suppose I just wondered if automation scripts (in conjunction with the Change Status action) could do some of the things we do with workflow, but better.
For example, I think there are some new Java methods in 7.6.1.1 and 7.6.1.2. And I wondered if they could be used to do workflow-like things:
1. service.webclientsession() (7.6.1.1)
2. service.openURL(String url, boolean newWindow) (7.6.1.2)
3. service.launchDialog(String dialogId) (7.6.1.2)

But like I said, I don't have much experience with workflow or automation scripts. So I thought I'd ask.

Cheers!
#AssetandFacilitiesManagement
#Maximo

Hi Craig,

Would you mind explaining this line? (for the novices in the room)

"You can also have stateless automation scripts specifically to be called on by WF such as action scripts."

Thanks.
Original Message:
Sent: Wed January 27, 2021 11:02 PM
From: Craig Kokay
Subject: Workflow: pros and cons?

I suppose you could say that it can, but I'd say that automation script supports the complex bits where WF fall short.  You have to look at what your designing and the level of control.

To me, WF is about enforcing business logic usually for approval purposes (but limited to) as it provides a canvas to layout that logic supported by other elements of Maximo.

One downfall at times of automation scripts is being able to control what order/when they get fired.  You can also have stateless automation scripts specifically to be called on by WF such as action scripts.

------------------------------
===============================
Craig Kokay,
Lead Senior Maximo/IoT Consultant
ISW
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Ph: 0411-682-040
=================================
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Original Message:
Sent: Wed January 27, 2021 10:15 PM
From: User1971
Subject: Workflow: pros and cons?

Thanks Craig.

Regarding your question: "What this is being put against?"

As a novice, I suppose I just wondered if automation scripts (in conjunction with the Change Status action) could do some of the things we do with workflow, but better.
For example, I think there are some new Java methods in 7.6.1.1 and 7.6.1.2. And I wondered if they could be used to do workflow-like things:
1. service.webclientsession() (7.6.1.1)
2. service.openURL(String url, boolean newWindow) (7.6.1.2)
3. service.launchDialog(String dialogId) (7.6.1.2)

But like I said, I don't have much experience with workflow or automation scripts. So I thought I'd ask.

Cheers!
#Maximo
#AssetandFacilitiesManagement

Big differences between workflow and automation scripts are the level of support and upgradeability. IBM supports your ability to do both, but if your autoscript breaks, chances are that it's your problem, not theirs. And if an upgrade changes Java versions or libraries, your workflow will be fine, but your autoscript might break. If you've used database-specific SQL in your workflow, that might break if the new database version doesn't support what you've done, and IBM won't help you fix that. But that risk tends to be pretty low, in my experience.

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Blessings,
Jason Uppenborn
Sr. Technical Maximo Consultant
Ontracks Consulting
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Original Message:
Sent: Wed January 27, 2021 10:15 PM
From: User1971
Subject: Workflow: pros and cons?

Thanks Craig.

Regarding your question: "What this is being put against?" (ie. What would be the alternatives to workflow?)

As a novice, I suppose I just wondered if automation scripts (in conjunction with the Change Status action) could do some of the things we do with workflow, but better.

For example, I think there are some new Java methods in 7.6.1.1 and 7.6.1.2. And I wondered if they could be used to do workflow-like things:
1. service.webclientsession() (7.6.1.1)
2. service.openURL(String url, boolean newWindow) (7.6.1.2)
3. service.launchDialog(String dialogId) (7.6.1.2)

But like I said, I don't have much experience with workflow or automation scripts. So I thought I'd ask.

Cheers!
#AssetandFacilitiesManagement
#Maximo

A big Pro for workflow is that the canvas looks pretty. You can show it to your non-technical people and explain it at a high level. Compare that to automation scripts where you are showing them a foreign language.

A big Con for workflow, in my experience, is the inflexibility of Action Groups. If one of those is used in a workflow and you need to change the sequence or remove particular actions, woe betide you.

Like Craig said, Workflow tends to be used to control status changes. You either have your users use the Change Status icons, or you take all of those away and give them the Route Workflow icon. I try to avoid assignments altogether, so you never have to use Workflow Administration. Since nothing can get stuck in an assignment, admins can have Change Status, maybe in a different app, for emergency situations. A con of going this way is that you have to use code (Autoscript or Java) to copy memos from the workflow box to the status change audit record.

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Blessings,
Jason Uppenborn
Sr. Technical Maximo Consultant
Ontracks Consulting
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#AssetandFacilitiesManagement
#Maximo

​As an aside the following tool may help when explaining complicated workflows to users.

Free tool to export Maximo Workflows to Visio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJDvs73MYbo

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Visium Workflow
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