Keep the source connected
A timeline entry should point back to the report, message, photograph, document or other source that supports it.
Summaries are useful for navigation, but they should not silently replace the underlying record.
- Original statement or report
- Event date and documentation date
- Evidence file or message
- People and locations involved
- Source of later corrections
Look for sequences, not just repeated words
A useful timeline can reveal changes in assignments, discipline, complaints, leave, machine conditions, quality events or management responses.
Repeated names or terms may justify review, but frequency alone does not establish responsibility.
Track evidence provenance
Record when a file was created or obtained, who supplied it if known, and what event it relates to. Preserve original files where possible.
A file without context may still matter, but uncertainty about its source or date should remain visible.
Allow the record to change your understanding
New evidence can strengthen, weaken, clarify or contradict an earlier interpretation. A trustworthy timeline should accommodate all four possibilities.
That is why WorkReport separates the source record from later structured review.