Safety & Maintenance
Corrective vs Preventive Maintenance: What's the Value of Each Strategy?
By: Emily Newton
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or any manufacturer, effective maintenance is essential. The right approach can significantly extend the lifespan of a machine while reducing downtime, preventing damage and cut down on the need for repairs. Two of the most common maintenance strategies are corrective and preventive maintenance. The two strategies differ significantly in terms of investment, time needed and potential results. Knowing the differences between the two will help a manufacturer determine which is best for their business.
Preventive Maintenance Preventive maintenance has long been considered the gold standard for manufacturing maintenance strategies, and is one of
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16 IMD JULY 2021
the most popular maintenance strategies, favored by around 80 percent of all maintenance personnel according to a 2018 Plant Engineering survey. With this approach, a manufacturer follows a maintenance schedule — either their own or one developed by an OEM. On a regular basis, technicians will conduct repairs, component replacements and maintenance checks that help to ensure the machine is kept in good working order and that issues are caught early. The exact repairs and checks needed will vary from machine to machine. An industrial press, for example, will need technicians to regularly inspect tool wear, adjust the mechanical assembly for tightness and add lubricant as needed.
