What is meant by "preventive maintenance"?

Preventive maintenance refers to scheduled maintenance performed to prevent equipment failures before they occur. This practice involves performing regular inspections, servicing, and minor repairs to equipment based on time intervals or usage metrics, rather than waiting for equipment to fail. By addressing potential issues early, preventive maintenance helps extend the lifespan of the equipment, reduces the likelihood of unplanned downtimes, and can ultimately save costs associated with emergency repairs or production stoppages.

In contrast, other concepts such as repairs during equipment failure indicate a reactive approach, which addresses problems only when they arise, potentially leading to larger failures. Maintenance aimed at restoring equipment to factory settings does not focus on averting issues before they happen, and random checks do not provide a systematic approach to maintaining equipment. Therefore, the scheduled nature and forward-thinking approach of preventive maintenance distinguish it as a key strategy in managing equipment reliability and performance.