Preventive maintenance: what it is, types and how to plan it
- Preventive maintenance is scheduled checks to avoid breakdowns before they happen.
- It is scheduled by calendar (every X days) or by usage (every X hours or cycles).
- A good plan starts with critical assets, with specific tasks and estimated times.
Preventive maintenance is the set of checks, adjustments and replacements carried out on a schedule to keep a piece of equipment from failing. Action is taken before the breakdown, at a frequency set by elapsed time or by equipment usage. It is the basis of any serious maintenance programme and the step before predictive maintenance.
Types of preventive maintenance
By calendar (time-based)
The task repeats at a fixed interval: weekly, monthly, yearly. It is simple to manage and suitable for inspections, cleaning or regulatory checks. Example: checking fire extinguishers every quarter.
By usage (meter-based)
The task is triggered when operating hours, cycles, units produced or kilometres accumulate. It is more precise: a stopped machine does not need new oil, one that runs three shifts does. Example: changing the filter every 500 hours of use.
Advantages
- It reduces unplanned stops and their cost, which is usually greater than that of the repair itself.
- It extends the useful life of equipment.
- It lets you plan work and spare parts instead of reacting.
- It improves safety and regulatory compliance.
Limits to bear in mind
- Unnecessary checks can be carried out on equipment that was fine.
- It does not eliminate all breakdowns: some do not follow a predictable pattern.
- It requires discipline: a preventive task that is not done is worse than not having one, because it gives a false sense of control.
How to create a preventive maintenance plan step by step
- Inventory the assets and classify them by criticality. Start with those that, if they stop, halt production or service.
- Gather the manufacturer’s recommendations and the breakdown history.
- Define the tasks for each piece of equipment, with a clear checklist.
- Choose the frequency: calendar or meter, depending on how each piece of equipment wears.
- Estimate time and material to plan technicians’ workload and spare parts.
- Automate the generation of work orders with enough lead time.
- Measure and adjust: plan compliance, breakdowns avoided and cost.
The key indicator: preventive compliance
It is calculated by dividing the preventive tasks done on time by those scheduled, times one hundred. Low compliance indicates an unrealistic plan or a lack of resources, not necessarily a problem with the technicians.
Preventive maintenance by calendar and by meter
In Mantenplan you schedule plans by date or by meter reading and work orders are generated on their own.
Create my first planFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between preventive and corrective maintenance?
Preventive maintenance is done before the equipment fails, on a schedule. Corrective maintenance is done after the breakdown to repair it.
How often should preventive maintenance be done?
It depends on the equipment, the manufacturer and the conditions of use. Start from the manufacturer’s recommendations and adjust with your breakdown history.
Are preventive and predictive maintenance the same thing?
No. Preventive maintenance follows a calendar or usage; predictive maintenance acts according to the real condition of the equipment, measured with sensors or inspections.