What Are the First Steps to Start a Preventive Maintenance Program?
Many maintenance teams spend most of their time reacting to problems. A machine breaks down, a repair request comes in, and the team rushes to fix it. It is called reactive maintenance, which is also known as run-to-fail. While this approach keeps operations moving, it often leads to higher costs, unexpected downtime, and unnecessary stress. Preventive maintenance (PM) offers a better approach. Instead of waiting for equipment to fail, teams schedule inspections and servicing ahead of time. This helps extend asset life, improve reliability, and reduce emergency repairs. Research shows that reactive maintenance can cost 3 to 4 times more than a planned preventive approach. The Business Case for PM ROI: On average, preventive maintenance offers an ROI of 10:1 . Energy Efficiency: Well-maintained HVAC and motor systems can reduce energy consumption by 5% to 11% . Asset Life: Routine servicing can extend the usable life of heavy machinery by 20% to 50% . If you...