Which maintenance strategy focuses on identifying and eliminating the causes of equipment failure?

The focus of the maintenance strategy that identifies and eliminates the causes of equipment failure is Root Cause Analysis (RCA). This approach is centered on understanding the underlying reasons for equipment malfunctions or failures rather than merely addressing the symptoms. By thoroughly investigating incidents of failure, RCA allows maintenance teams to pinpoint specific root causes—such as design flaws, improper maintenance procedures, or operational errors. Once these causes are identified, corrective actions can be implemented to mitigate or eliminate them, leading to a reduction in future failures and improved overall equipment reliability.

Preventive maintenance aims to perform maintenance tasks at scheduled intervals to prevent equipment failure but does not necessarily investigate the underlying causes. Similarly, predictive maintenance involves the use of data and analytics to predict when maintenance should be performed based on the equipment condition, rather than tackling the root causes of failures. Corrective maintenance, on the other hand, addresses failures after they occur but does not focus on identifying the root causes to prevent recurrence. Thus, Root Cause Analysis is uniquely positioned as a strategic methodology for eliminating the causes of failures.