What is the purpose of Preventative Maintenance?

• A. Fixes equipment after it fails
• B. Improves aesthetics
• C. Prevents breakdowns
• D. Reduces cost by ignoring issues

Answer: (C)

Preventive maintenance is a planned approach to keep equipment in reliable condition by performing regular, scheduled tasks that catch wear and prevent failures. It involves inspections, lubrication, tightening, cleaning, calibration, and component replacements before a fault occurs. By addressing small problems early, it minimizes the chance of unexpected breakdowns, reduces downtime, extends equipment life, and often lowers overall operating costs. It is not about fixing equipment after it fails, nor about improving looks, nor about ignoring issues.