Preventive Maintenance

Preventive maintenance (or preventative maintenance) is a strategy based on the principle 'fix it before it breaks.' It involves a planned schedule of maintenance activities, such as inspections, cleaning, lubrication, and parts replacement, performed at regular intervals. These intervals can be based on time (e.g., every six months), usage (e.g., every 10,000 miles), or other fixed criteria.

The difference from corrective work

The key difference from corrective maintenance lies in timing and intent. Corrective maintenance is reactive; it is performed after a failure has already occurred to restore the equipment to working order. Preventive maintenance is proactive; it is performed while the equipment is still operational to prevent future failures.

An example

For example, changing a vehicle's oil every 10,000 miles is preventive maintenance. It's done to prevent engine damage, not because the engine has already failed. Waiting for the engine to seize and then replacing it would be corrective maintenance. While preventive maintenance can sometimes lead to replacing parts that still have some life left, it is generally far more cost-effective than enduring the high costs and unplanned downtime associated with unexpected breakdowns.