Corrective maintenance is a purely reactive maintenance strategy.

The work is initiated only when a component or system fails and can no longer perform its function.

The goal is simply to restore the asset to its operational state as quickly as possible.

This is often referred to as a 'run-to-failure' strategy.

An example in a fleet setting is a truck's alternator failing mid-route.

The corrective maintenance would be the emergency repair or replacement of that alternator to get the truck moving again.

While often seen as less sophisticated than preventive or predictive strategies, corrective maintenance can be appropriate in certain situations.

For non-critical components that are inexpensive and easy to replace, and whose failure does not cause significant downtime or safety risks, letting them run to failure can be the most cost-effective approach.

For example, replacing an interior light bulb.

However, relying on corrective maintenance for critical systems like engines or brakes is a high-risk, high-cost strategy due to the unplanned downtime, potential for cascading damage, and safety implications.