The Inspection Checklist is designed to provide your client with a clear written evaluation of the condition of their vehicle after service is completed. It helps document:
•Items inspected
•Current condition
•Areas needing future attention
•Immediate safety concerns
•Measured values and observations
The checklist improves:
•Professional image
•Customer communication
•Service documentation
•Liability protection
•Repeat business opportunities
The checklist appears as a dedicated tab on the Workorder and is very easy to apply and complete.
Basic Controls
Add
When you first open the Inspection tab:
•No checklist is displayed
This is intentional because:
•Not every workorder requires an inspection checklist
To create one:
•Click the Add button once
The system will:
•Build the checklist
•Attach it to the current workorder
Depending on the size of the checklist:
•Creation may take a few seconds
Once added:
•The checklist becomes permanently attached to the workorder
•It will appear every time the Inspection tab is opened
Delete
The Delete button removes:
•Individual checklist line items
To remove an item:
•Highlight the desired line
•Click Delete
This is useful when:
•Certain inspections are not applicable
•The checklist contains unnecessary entries for a specific vehicle
Save
After:
•Marking inspection results
•Entering measurements
•Adding values
be sure to click:
•Save
before moving to another tab.
You may:
•Complete the entire checklist first
•Then Save once at the end
or:
•Save periodically during the inspection process
Checklist Status Options
Each inspection line contains several status boxes.
To place a check mark in a box:
•Double-click the left mouse button while pointing at the desired box
Pass
Select:
•Pass
when:
•The inspected item currently meets specifications
•No service is required
Examples:
•Brake thickness acceptable
•Fluid level normal
•Tire condition acceptable
Next
Select:
•Next
when:
•The item is acceptable now
•But will likely require attention before the next regular visit
This is one of the most important customer communication tools because it:
•Alerts the client early
•Helps avoid unexpected failures
•Supports preventative maintenance planning
Examples:
•Tires approaching wear limits
•Brake pads nearing replacement
•Battery testing weak but still functional
Fail
Select:
•Fail
when:
•The item does not meet manufacturer specifications
•Immediate service is recommended
Examples:
•Unsafe brakes
•Major fluid leaks
•Worn suspension components
•Failed battery test
These items should generally:
•Also become Recommendations
•Be discussed directly with the client
N/A ( Not Applicable )
Select:
•N/A
when:
•The inspection item does not apply to this vehicle
•Or should not appear on the printed report
When checked:
•The item will be skipped during printing
This keeps the final inspection report:
•Cleaner
•Easier to read
•More relevant to the client
Values
Many checklist items allow:
•Numeric measurements
•Specific readings
•Inspection values
Examples:
•Tire tread depth
•Brake rotor thickness
•Battery voltage
•Fluid percentage
•Belt wear measurements
If the checklist was properly designed:
•Labels will appear beside the value fields
Always include:
•Units of measurement
Examples:
•45%
•32 mm
•3 qts
•12.6 V
Although values may technically be entered anywhere, they are most meaningful when:
•Labels are present
•The measurements are clearly identified
Printing The Checklist
When printing a workorder or invoice, the system asks:
•“Print inspection checklist?”
If you select:
•Yes
the checklist prints:
•After the invoice information
This creates a professional inspection report that:
•Documents the service visit
•Shows the condition of inspected items
•Helps explain recommendations
•Reinforces the thoroughness of your service
Permanent History Storage
Inspection checklists are permanently stored with the workorder history.
This means:
•Previous inspections may be reviewed anytime
•Prior vehicle condition can be verified
•Trends can be identified over multiple visits
To review a prior checklist:
1.Open the Service History
2.Highlight the desired workorder
3.Scroll through the lower detail window
The checklist entries will appear:
•Following the Recommendations section
This historical tracking can be extremely valuable when:
•Reviewing recurring problems
•Explaining previous warnings
•Handling warranty concerns
•Demonstrating preventative maintenance efforts
Why Inspection Checklists Matter
Inspection Checklists provide major benefits for both:
•The service center
•The client
They:
•Demonstrate professionalism
•Improve customer trust
•Document vehicle condition
•Support future recommendations
•Help prevent misunderstandings
•Encourage preventative maintenance
Most importantly:
•They clearly show the client that your shop thoroughly inspected the vehicle and genuinely cares about its safety and reliability.
Creating A Checklist
The actual design and setup of the Inspection Checklist is handled separately within the Setup section of MLS 2026.
That section explains:
•Creating categories
•Defining inspection items
•Setting labels
•Organizing groups
•Customizing printed output
Once configured, the checklist structure becomes available automatically for use on all applicable workorders.