jobticket

A job ticket is a formal document or digital record that authorizes and describes the work to be performed on a specific job. It serves as both a work instruction and a tracking instrument, guiding labor and materials through completion and providing a record of what was done.

In manufacturing, production, or print environments, a job ticket (often called a work ticket or shop ticket) accompanies a job from planning to delivery. It lists the job number, customer or order, product specifications, materials, quantities, due date, routing and work centers, processing steps, inspection criteria, and any special instructions or tolerances. It may include required tooling, setup notes, deadlines, and attachments. The ticket supports scheduling, material planning, and cost accounting, and is used to verify that the finished product meets requirements.

In information technology and service desks, the term is used for a service or incident ticket that records a request or problem. A job ticket in this context contains fields such as ticket ID, requester, summary, priority, status, assignee, start and close times, SLA, and a history of updates. It guides the technician through work steps, tracks time and resources, and provides a basis for reporting, escalation, and billing.

Although the term can overlap with “work order” or “service ticket,” its meaning is industry dependent. Regardless of the domain, a job ticket typically undergoes creation, assignment, execution, update, and closure, with an audit trail. Benefits include improved clarity, traceability, accountability, and enhanced ability to forecast capacity and costs.