Not every scheduled task can be completed when planned. A walk-in fridge is down for repair, a vendor cancelled, a part is on order. MaintIQ gives you two distinct controls so the history reflects reality.
Skip
Use Skip when the task should not be done at all in this cycle. Examples:
- The equipment is out of service.
- The check is unsafe right now (water on the floor, lockout in progress).
- The task is duplicated by another job already in progress.
Skipping requires a reason. The reason is mandatory because it is the only signal admins will see when reviewing compliance.
Defer
Use Defer when the task still needs to happen, just later. Examples:
- A part has not arrived.
- The technician scheduled to do it called out.
- A higher-priority work order is taking precedence.
Deferring pushes the due time forward by one cadence slot (next day for daily tasks, next week for weekly, etc.). It also flags the task with a "deferred" badge so it is easy to spot.
What admins see
Both actions appear in History and Insights:
- A skip counts as a completed-with-exception event — not as overdue.
- A defer counts as a slipped task — it shows up in the "deferred this period" KPI on the Insights dashboard.
Repeated skips on the same task usually mean the cadence is wrong or the asset has a chronic problem. Repeated defers usually mean staffing or parts supply needs attention.
How to skip or defer
From the task list:
- Tap the task row.
- Tap the ⋯ menu at the top right of the task detail.
- Pick Skip or Defer.
- Enter a reason (required for Skip, optional for Defer).
- Save.
Reopening a skipped task
If you skip by mistake, open History, find the entry, and click Reopen. The task returns to its original due time and the skip is logged as undone.