{"id":13867,"date":"2023-08-10T08:14:27","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T14:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/?page_id=13867"},"modified":"2025-05-29T21:14:31","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T03:14:31","slug":"schedule-compliance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/learn\/metrics\/schedule-compliance\/","title":{"rendered":"Schedule Compliance"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Schedule Compliance<\/h1>

Everything you ever needed to know about schedule compliance.<\/h2><\/header>Free Guide to Maintenance Metrics<\/span><\/a>\n
\n \n <\/span>Last updated on May 29, 2025<\/span>\n <\/span>\n bBrinton<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top” css=”.vc_custom_1687442797424{margin-top: 40px !important;}” el_class=”limble-page-blog-width”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

What is schedule compliance?<\/h2>\n

Schedule compliance is an important KPI for measuring the effectiveness of a maintenance program. It tracks how many scheduled maintenance tasks have been completed on time compared to the number scheduled.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Low schedule compliance means you may be missing tasks or pushing them back due to breakdowns or other maintenance distractions, flagging that you might be in fire-fighting mode. Fire-fighting occurs when you can\u2019t get to the tasks needed to improve equipment reliability because the reliability is so poor \u2013 a vicious circle of ever-decreasing reliability.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most organizations operate in a <\/span>schedule compliance band between 40% and 90%<\/b>, with best-in-class maintenance programs producing schedule compliance figures in the low 90%.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A 100% schedule compliance is unrealistic, suggesting a non-optimized maintenance program, data issues, or excessive maintenance. Drop below 40%, and your operation is in reactive mode.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top” css=”.vc_custom_1687442797424{margin-top: 40px !important;}” el_class=”limble-page-blog-width”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Table of Contents<\/span><\/h2>\n

Schedule compliance formula and calculation<\/a>
\nAcceptable schedule slippage<\/a>
\nPreventing the abuse of the 10% rule<\/a>
\nWays to improve schedule compliance<\/a>
\nUse a CMMS to improve schedule compliance<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top” css=”.vc_custom_1687440273251{margin-top: 40px !important;}” el_class=”limble-page-blog-width”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Schedule compliance formula and calculation<\/h2>\n

Measuring schedule compliance requires using the following simple formula to give you a percentage:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a couple of examples.<\/span><\/p>\n

Example #1<\/span><\/h3>\n

A match factory maintenance scheduler has scheduled <\/span>110 planned maintenance tasks<\/b> for the week. At the end of the week, the maintenance team returned <\/span>60 completed tasks<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Schedule compliance = (60\/110) x 100<\/span><\/p>\n

Schedule compliance = 55%\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So the team achieved a 55% schedule compliance. However, the scheduling process calculation is never that simple. Let\u2019s look at an alternative scenario.<\/span><\/p>\n

Example #2<\/span><\/h3>\n

The maintenance scheduler has scheduled <\/span>110 planned maintenance tasks<\/b> for the week, and the maintenance team cleared <\/span>45 of those<\/b>, plus <\/span>45 remaining from the previous week<\/b>. What do you measure, the 90 completed tasks or the 45?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Schedule compliance = (45\/110) x 100<\/span><\/p>\n

Schedule compliance = 41%<\/span><\/p>\n

The team only achieved 41%, <\/span>as the calculation must focus solely on the tasks scheduled for the week<\/b> versus the number cleared within that same period. <\/span>It doesn\u2019t count overdue work<\/b> from the last period or anticipated work for the next. Neither does it count breakdown, reactive tasks, or work arising due to defects found during <\/span>scheduled maintenance<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, these examples are quite theoretical, as we all know that the world doesn\u2019t always function on a predetermined timetable. Sometimes tasks do slip due to circumstances beyond our control, even though the maintenance program is working well and equipment reliability is good.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To cope with those times \u2013 but maintain the integrity of the <\/span>maintenance program and the KPI<\/span><\/a> \u2013 <\/span>there is a schedule slippage allowance you can use<\/b>.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-bottom” kd_top_separator_style=”skew-left” kd_top_separator_height=”separator-height-small” kd_bottom_separator_style=”skew-left” kd_bottom_separator_height=”separator-height-small” kd_top_separator=”true” kd_bottom_separator=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1682969576554{margin-bottom: 40px !important;padding-top: 120px !important;padding-right: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;background: #dde4e8 url(https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/cta-laired-hex-4.webp?id=9077) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;border-radius: 0px !important;}” css_tablet_landscape=”.vc_custom_1682969576554{padding-bottom: 80px !important;}” css_tablet_portrait=”.vc_custom_1682969576555{padding-bottom: 80px !important;}” css_mobile=”.vc_custom_1682969576555{padding-bottom: 80px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top”][vc_column_inner]

Checklist for Creating a Preventive Maintenance Plan<\/h2>
Following a consistent Preventive Maintenance Plan can make life easier. Use this checklist to create your own!<\/h6><\/header>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner content_placement=”top” kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1631866454223{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-md-12 vc_col-xs-12″ css_tablet_landscape=”.vc_custom_1631866454223{padding-right: 0px !important;}” css_tablet_portrait=”.vc_custom_1631866454223{padding-right: 0px !important;}” css_mobile=”.vc_custom_1631866454224{padding-right: 15px !important;}”][vc_raw_html]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[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image source=”external_link” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn” custom_src=”https:\/\/3975608.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net\/hubfs\/3975608\/Content%20Downloads\/PM%20Checklist%20mockup.png”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top” css=”.vc_custom_1687440273251{margin-top: 40px !important;}” el_class=”limble-page-blog-width”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Acceptable schedule slippage<\/h2>\n

When creating a maintenance package, schedulers plan for the necessary staff, spare parts, and tooling to be available and serviceable. They also trust that production will meet their commitment to handing the equipment over to the maintenance team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, things don\u2019t always go as planned. As Mike Tyson eloquently puts it: \u201cEveryone has a plan until they get punched in the face.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

You will run into production priorities that will require the machine to continue operating, someone on the maintenance team will call in sick, a tool will break, or you will need a spare that has already been used elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maintenance programs usually have a ten percent rule to account for unexpected events that can derail even the most detailed plans. The ten percent rule states that completing the scheduled task within plus or minus ten percent of the task maintenance interval still meets schedule compliance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s assume our match factory maintenance scheduler plans asset management tasks for the week, and two tasks with a frequency of 90 days are left uncompleted by the week\u2019s end. We can apply the ten percent rule in the following way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If the tasks occur every 90 days, the ten percent rule states that as long as task completion occurs on or after day 81 and on or before day 99, they have met schedule compliance. Therefore, if the team includes those tasks in next week\u2019s maintenance plan and acquits them, they have met the schedule.<\/span><\/p>\n

If teams use the rule constantly, with the completion date always after the due date but just within the ten percent boundary, it indicates a maintenance program under stress. You should perform an internal audit to figure out the root cause of why that is happening.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scheduling a small percentage of tasks early and others late indicates the rule works as intended, allowing the scheduler to flex the <\/span>preventive maintenance plan<\/span><\/a> to accommodate resource issues, <\/span>machine availability<\/span><\/a>, or part delays while meeting the intent of the maintenance program.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top” css=”.vc_custom_1687440273251{margin-top: 40px !important;}” el_class=”limble-page-blog-width”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Preventing the abuse of the \u201c10% rule\u201d<\/h2>\n

Poor maintenance teams see the ten percent rule as a get-out-of-jail card and try to game the system.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hypothetically, a <\/span>maintenance planner<\/span><\/a> might use the ten percent rule on a 30-day task to allow acquittal on day 33. Then they plan the next period for day 63 but call the ten percent rule again, completing the task on day 66, and so on for each period. The task has now become a 33-day task, <\/span>and the equipment receives one less inspection a year<\/b> than the manufacturer has recommended.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maintenance planning for critical equipment always includes a caveat to the ten percent rule to prevent abuse. In our hypothetical case, if you call a 30-day task at day 33, you must call the next period at day 60, retaining the intent of the maintenance frequency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A good example is the airline industry, which implemented strict regulatory guidelines to control exactly this situation.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top” css=”.vc_custom_1687440273251{margin-top: 40px !important;}” el_class=”limble-page-blog-width”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Ways to improve schedule compliance<\/h2>\n

Organizations trying to get out of the vicious downward spiral of <\/span>reactive maintenance<\/span><\/a> can break the cycle and gain time to acquit planned tasks and improve schedule compliance. However, it requires a coordinated, widely understood, and agreed-on strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n

1) Purge unnecessary planned maintenance tasks<\/span><\/h3>\n

When you\u2019re battling to find enough hours in the day to do what\u2019s needed, you don\u2019t want to waste resources on unnecessary tasks. Audit your maintenance program to find duplicates, nice-to-haves, and tasks that add debatable long-term value with no immediate benefits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Remove what you can and consolidate the work orders that make your operation more efficient. Agree to pause and revisit tasks which are not a priority but are draining important resources that are currently used better elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2) Phase maintenance tasks to level workloads<\/span><\/h3>\n

Review your maintenance program 12 to 24 months out and model the resource and downtime requirement to identify peaks and troughs. Try to level the playing field:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n