The basic meaning of maintenance simply means performing non-destructive inspections, fixing, servicing, fixing, replacing, and cleaning of necessary items, tools, equipment, machines, construction infrastructure, and building materials in any structure. It includes the total cost of repairs and replacement, if a single item is replaced. In general, it also includes the cost of repair of damages, unless a single component is replaced with a completely new component. For instance, the total cost of repairs and replacement of an engine might be different from the total cost of repair and replacement of a totally new component of the engine.
One must perform routine maintenance activities on all the necessary elements of a structure to ensure maximum productivity, efficiency, durability, and safety. In a complex organization, however, where many assets are utilized, regular inspections are not possible, since other priorities of the organization must be given equal priority. Moreover, if a single asset fails to undergo regular maintenance activities, it will take a lot of time and resources to correct the problem. On the other hand, if the maintenance activities are performed in a regular manner, the probability of the asset failing is reduced.
This is the reason why prevention is considered to be one of the most important factors of total maintenance activity. A preventive maintenance program is developed keeping in view the different types of operations, materials, processes, locations, and environments. Based on the interplay learning of the components, the planners can design a maintenance schedule for a particular facility or a type of asset. Maintenance programs are usually divided into two categories, namely, essential and non-essential. Essential maintenance activities include those that must be performed on a regular basis; while non-essential maintenance activities are those that occur on a periodic basis. Based on the schedule, the planners make adjustments, which sometimes lead to the complete stoppage of different types of maintenance activities.
