Calculating sequential dates from random columns

[1710]

I have a table of orders that include multiple transaction dates which indicate which step of the order process was completed on what date. The sequence in which these steps are completed varies from transaction to transaction. With the exception of the creation date, each date is the date that step was completed.

I'm trying to automate the calculation of how many days a given step took. In row 2, the calculation would be fairly straightforward as the "steps" all took place in the same order as their column arrangement. A formula could be written (and was) that calculates the number of days between 2 column unless it's neighbour is blank. Works perfectly as long as the order follows the column arrangements.

If the dates don't flow, as in rows 5 and 6 for example, then the answer to the days calculation is meaningless.

I'm thinking that each row needs to be sorted and calculated without losing track of it's label. I have zero VBA foo and haven't been able to formula my way to a solution yet.

Excel Workbook
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
1
Work Order
Customer
Order Open
1st Inspection
Quote
Waiting for PO
Waiting for Parts
Repair
With Vendor
COD
Shipped
2
28004
Jim
17/01/12
06/02/12
09/02/12
13/02/12
13/02/12
13/02/12
na
13/02/12
13/02/12
3
29486
Joe
18/01/12
25/01/12
25/01/12
25/01/12
25/01/12
10/02/12
na
10/02/12
10/02/12
4
31496
Bob
04/07/11
12/10/11
05/10/11
05/10/11
05/10/11
23/01/12
na
5
32269
Ryan
12/01/12
30/01/12
13/02/12
31/01/12
31/01/12
10/02/12
6
33606
Frank
05/12/11
20/12/11
20/12/11
20/12/11
20/12/11
22/01/12
20/01/12
7
30039
Peter
09/02/12
10/02/12
14/02/12
14/02/12
12/02/12
na
8
27753
Albert
30/01/12
07/02/12
08/02/12
07/02/12
na
9
31262
Dave
17/06/11
20/09/11
22/07/11
22/07/11
22/07/11
14/02/12
na
10
32804
Adam
21/09/11
23/11/11
na
na
na
09/02/12
na
11
12161
Chris
26/09/11
28/09/11
10/01/12
28/09/11
10/01/12
19/01/12
na
12
20841
Craig
04/10/11
11/10/11
11/10/11
11/10/11
13/10/11
18/01/12
na
13
85016
John
19/10/11
18/11/11
19/10/11
19/10/11
19/10/11
10/02/12
na
14
54116
Tom
06/12/11
14/12/11
14/12/11
14/12/11
14/12/11
24/01/12
na
Sheet1
Excel 2010

 

[1710]

Actually I seem to have created a workable formula:

=IF(MIN(IFERROR(IF(D2-$C2>0,D2-$C2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$D2>0,D2-$D2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$E2>0,D2-$E2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$F2>0,D2-$F2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$G2>0,D2-$G2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$H2>0,D2-$H2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$I2>0,D2-$I2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$J2>0,D2-$J2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$K2>0,D2-$K2,1000),1000))<>1000,MIN(IFERROR(IF(D2-$C2>0,D2-$C2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$D2>0,D2-$D2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$E2>0,D2-$E2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$F2>0,D2-$F2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$G2>0,D2-$G2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$H2>0,D2-$H2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$I2>0,D2-$I2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$J2>0,D2-$J2,1000),1000),IFERROR(IF(D2-$K2>0,D2-$K2,1000),1000)),"")

No...no I haven't. That doesn't work either.