The notion of maintenance has drastically changed over the last several decades. The term ‘maintenance’ now covers a multitude of activities, systems, and strategies that all contribute to the objective of keeping physical assets in a state of good repair. The main goal of maintenance is to prevent or correct problems before they cause downtime or failure.
The different types of maintenance strategies can be categorized according to their objective, scope, and methodology. The most common types of maintenance strategies are reactive maintenance, preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, and prescriptive maintenance. Reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) is a more holistic approach that takes into account all the different elements that contribute to the reliability of an asset.
This guide provides an overview of all the different types of maintenance strategies, along with their advantages and disadvantages.
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Maintenance is defined as all the activities carried out to keep an asset in a state of good repair. The asset can be anything from a machine in a factory to the electrical infrastructure in a city.
The main objective of maintenance is to prevent or minimize the occurrence of failures and to correct any degradation in the performance of an asset.
Maintenance activities can be broadly classified into two categories:
This is carried out when an asset fails or shows signs of degradation in performance. The objective of Corrective Maintenance is to restore the asset to its original state.
This is carried out on a regular basis to prevent the occurrence of failures. The objective of Preventive Maintenance is to extend the asset’s lifespan and avoid the need for corrective maintenance.
There are many reasons why maintenance is important. First, it helps to ensure that your assets are in good working condition. This can prolong the life of your assets and save you money in the long run. Additionally, regular maintenance can help to identify potential problems early on before they cause serious damage or become irreparable.
Maintenance is also important for safety reasons. If your assets are not properly maintained, they may pose a danger to people who work with such assets. Additionally, damaged, or improperly functioning assets can cause unexpected disruptions in your business operations.
For these reasons, it is important to develop a comprehensive asset maintenance plan with thought our maintenance strategies based on the specific needs and objectives of the business.
A maintenance strategy is a plan that outlines how maintenance activities should be carried out.
The strategy should consider the type of asset, its operating environment, and the desired level of performance.
The Different Types of Maintenance Strategies
The main types of maintenance strategies are: reactive, preventive, predictive, prescriptive, corrective, and reliability-centered maintenance.
Reactive Maintenance is carried out when an asset fails or shows signs of degradation in performance. The objective of reactive maintenance is to restore the asset to its original state. Reactive maintenance is often referred to as ‘breakdown maintenance’ because it is usually carried out after an asset has broken down.
Preventive maintenance is carried out on a regular basis to prevent the occurrence of failures. The objective of preventive maintenance is to extend the asset’s lifespan and avoid the need for corrective maintenance. Preventive maintenance is usually scheduled in advance and carried out at regular intervals.
Predictive Maintenance is a type of maintenance that uses data from sensors to predict when an asset is likely to fail. The objective of predictive maintenance is to avoid the need for corrective maintenance by carrying out preventive maintenance before the asset fails. Predictive maintenance is usually carried out at regular intervals, but the intervals can be adjusted based on the data from the sensors.
Prescriptive maintenance is a type of maintenance that uses data from sensors to prescribe the best course of action for each individual asset. The objective of prescriptive maintenance is to optimize the performance of an asset and extend its lifespan. Prescriptive maintenance is usually carried out at regular intervals, but the intervals can be adjusted based on the data from the sensors.
Corrective Maintenance is a type of maintenance that is carried out to fix or repair an existing problem. This can be contrasted with preventative maintenance, which is carried out to avoid future problems. Corrective maintenance is often seen as a last resort, to be used when everything else has failed.
Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) is a systematic process for developing a maintenance program that focuses on preserving the operational function of equipment. The goal of RCM is to ensure that equipment can perform its required function at the desired level of performance.
Cryptos CMMS software is a comprehensive maintenance management solution that helps businesses streamline their maintenance operations. It is designed to help businesses manage their assets, schedule, and track work orders, and optimize their preventive maintenance programs. Cryotos CMMS software is a web and mobile cloud-based solution that can be accessed from any internet-connected device. It is a scalable solution that can be customized to meet the specific needs of your businesses including the implementation of various maintenance strategies. Reach out to the Cryotos team to know more about improving maintenance activities in your organization.
