---
title: Create a breakdown
description: Create a breakdown record in the Digital Factory Workspace to document a significant equipment failure or process stop. Use this task to capture key details such as duration, impact, and cause, and begin structured investigation and resolution.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/industrial-connected-workforce/digital-factory-workspace/create-breakdown.html
release: australia
product: Digital Factory Workspace
classification: digital-factory-workspace
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Breakdown Management, Industrial Workflows, Use, Digital Factory Workspace, Industrial Connected Workforce]
---

# Create a breakdown

Create a breakdown record in the Digital Factory Workspace to document a significant equipment failure or process stop. Use this task to capture key details such as duration, impact, and cause, and begin structured investigation and resolution.

## Before you begin

Role required: sn\_icw.deviation\_user or sn\_icw.deviation\_expert

## Procedure

1.  Navigate to **Workspaces** > **Digital Factory Workspace** > **Add** > **New Breakdown**.

2.  On the Breakdown form, fill in the fields.

    For a description of the field values, see [Deviation form](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/industrial-connected-workforce/digital-factory-workspace/deviation-form.md).

3.  Select **Save**.

    A new breakdown with the Open state appears in the list of breakdowns.

4.  Write and post work notes with additional details about the progress and steps you have taken.

    To view the **Work notes** field next to other record details, select the view selector icon \(\[Omitted image "editable-record-form-and-list-of-record-activities-view-icon.png"\] Alt text: Editable record form and list of record activities view icon.\) and select **Editable record form and list of record activities**.

5.  From the Recommendations sidebar, create a guided task related to the breakdown.

    To learn more about the Recommended Actions in the Digital Factory Workspace, see [Recommended Actions for the Industrial Connected Workforce](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/industrial-connected-workforce/digital-factory-workspace/recommended-actions-icw.md).


## Result

The breakdown is displayed in the breakdown list of and the list of all tasks. You can fix the breakdown and initiate a breakdown analysis for in-depth investigation.

**Parent Topic:**[Breakdown Management](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/industrial-connected-workforce/digital-factory-workspace/breakdown-analysis.md)