MAINTENANCE METHODS

Breakdown Maintenance is a method that is considered reactive in that the machine failure occurs and everybody reacts. This often causes poor safety conditions for personnel and larger maintenance expenses. Insurance companies often put these operations in a high risk category.

Maintenance has traditionally been a method of correcting problems. A machine breaks down THEN the maintenance people are called. Thus the term "breakdown" maintenance.

Preventive Maintenance is a method of giving periodic maintenance to machine whether it seems to need it or not. This may result in considerable cost saving. However if an individual neglects lubrication of a bearing or fails to notice a defective component, damage or failure may be eminent. Also the defective component may have damaged other components and a minor oversight could lead to another failure down the road. Even if nothing is wrong with a machine, the disassembly and reassembly process might result in improperly functioning components. (Am I only one who end ups with a few nuts and bolts left over after a job is finished?)

Preventive maintenance is scheduled periodically, whether or not it is necessary. Scheduled lubrication, oil changes, belts replacements, and seal repairs, as well as periodic inspections have become the standard at many facilities. Of course many engineers from the "old school" feel strongly that, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I tend to agree with the old boys, but I contend that the definition of "broke" must be redefined. Maintenance needs a method to determine exactly what is going on inside a machine, without the time (and dollar) consuming process of tear-down inspections.

Predictive Maintenance is a technology based, study of machinery characteristics. This greatly enhances preventive maintenance programs, but is not a replacement. The success of any predictive maintenance program depends greatly upon the management of the facility and the support of the existing maintenance group. Communication is very important in developing and maintaining support.

These methods are often combined in a maintenance operation since one method may not be appropriate for all machines.

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Last updated: November 24, 2002