Maintenance Techniques and Strategies

A collection of key maintenance terms and definitions to aid in understanding maintenance strategies and techniques.

Maintenance

A combination of all technical, administrative, and management actions to maintain or restore equipment to a condition to perform required functions.

Corrective Maintenance (CM)

Maintenance performed in response to a fault or failure. The goal is to restore the equipment to its normal operational state as quickly as possible.

Preventive Maintenance (PM)

A scheduled type of maintenance carried out regularly to prevent failure and extend the lifespan of equipment.

Predictive Maintenance (PdM)

Maintenance based on monitoring the condition of equipment to predict when maintenance should be performed, minimizing unexpected failures.

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)

A methodology that aims to improve productivity by involving all employees in the maintenance process to maximize equipment effectiveness.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

A systematic process for identifying the underlying cause of a problem or event, used in maintenance to understand why equipment failed.

Availability (T)

The ratio of actual operating time to planned operational time, indicating how much time equipment is ready to be used.

Equipment Reliability

The probability that equipment will perform its intended function without failure under specified conditions for a specified period.

Life Cycle Cost (LCC)

The total cost of owning and operating an asset throughout its life cycle, including acquisition, maintenance, and disposal costs.

Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM)

Maintenance strategy that uses the actual condition of assets to decide what maintenance needs to be done.

5S

A workplace organization method that uses five steps: Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain to enhance efficiency.

Downtime

Periods when equipment is not operational due to maintenance activities or failures.

Technical Documentation

Documentation that includes manufacturer specifications, repair manuals, and maintenance procedures for machinery and equipment.

Risk-Based Maintenance

Method to plan maintenance activities based on identified risks rather than following a calendar schedule.

Lean Manufacturing

A methodology focused on minimizing waste while maximizing productivity in manufacturing processes.

Calibration

The process of adjusting and maintaining the accuracy of measurement instruments.

Operational Efficiency

The capability of an organization to deliver products or services to customers in the most cost-effective manner without compromising quality.

Asset Management

The systematic process of developing, operating, maintaining, and selling assets in a cost-effective manner.

Work Order

A document that authorizes maintenance work and outlines tasks to be performed and resources needed.