Maintenance inspections are an essential part of keeping your assets and equipment in top condition. But with so many different types of maintenance inspections available, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. In this article, we'll explore the three main types of maintenance inspections: preventive, default, and condition-based/predictive maintenance. We'll also discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each type, so you can make an informed decision about which one is best for your needs. Preventive maintenance is the idea that small problems should be identified and fixed before they become major issues.
This type of maintenance involves a program of inspections and tasks to identify and address potential problems before they become serious. The benefits of preventive maintenance include avoiding costly repairs, reducing downtime, and improving safety. However, it can be expensive to implement and requires specialized training for staff. Default maintenance is when you follow the manufacturer's recommendations for maintenance, including when to perform inspections and tasks. This type of maintenance is similar to condition-based maintenance, but the data is analyzed to make accurate predictions about future failures.
Default maintenance can be expensive due to the cost of sophisticated software and specialized training for staff. Condition-based/predictive maintenance relies on sensors and special software to collect and analyze data from sensors installed directly on or near your assets. The software looks for readings outside preset parameters or analyzes the data to predict future failures. This type of maintenance can be expensive due to the cost of sophisticated software and specialized training for staff. When choosing a maintenance strategy, it's important to understand your options, benefits, and drawbacks. For newer assets, default maintenance may be the best option.
As assets age and a maintenance history is created, you can adjust the schedule to best suit your specific situation. For assets that don't fit either of these descriptions, preventive maintenance may be the best option. In addition to preventive, default, and condition-based/predictive maintenance, there are other types of maintenance that may be appropriate in certain situations. These include corrective (run-to-failure) maintenance, time-based (regular interval) maintenance, and unplanned (emergency) maintenance. It's important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of each type before making a decision. An efficient and effective preventive maintenance program will have a combination of all these different types of maintenance.
It's also important to ensure that failure modes considered do not have the potential to become emergency maintenance. Ultimately, preventing a failure is much cheaper and safer than letting the equipment fail. Choosing the right type of maintenance inspection for your needs can be a challenge. But by understanding your options, benefits, and drawbacks, you can make an informed decision that will help keep your assets in top condition.
