An analogy for preventive and predictive maintenance

For most of my life, I pushed myself while working out at the local gym. I used my feelings to balance reasonable rest periods between exercises while keeping my heart rate elevated. After training sessions, I self-evaluated and asked myself if I had trained hard enough or could have pushed a little more. Then, I adjusted the next training session’s intensity, higher or lower, based on my feelings. Over time, I saw gains, which convinced me that my method was successful.

However, was the method optimal? Was there a more efficient path to success or progress? The answer is yes.

Now, instead of using my feelings, I use a smartwatch to record my heart rate and manage rest between exercises. Instead of guessing whether I’m having a rigorous training session, I check my calories burned and make informed decisions based on real-time data.

This example is how I like to think of preventive maintenance compared to predictive maintenance. Preventive maintenance allows me to make decisions based on my feelings. Predictive maintenance allows me to make more accurate assessments based on real-time data and a simple dashboard.