{"id":17187,"date":"2024-05-03T11:05:53","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T17:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/?p=17187"},"modified":"2025-05-30T13:01:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T19:01:58","slug":"equipment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/equipment\/","title":{"rendered":"Equipment preventive maintenance (PM)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In sectors like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/industry\/manufacturing-maintenance-software\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">manufacturing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the very survival of your business depends on equipment that is effective, efficient, and reliable. So the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/maintenance-strategy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance strategy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you use to protect and preserve this equipment is central to your broader business goals. This is why it\u2019s so important to adopt and manage a robust <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/preventive-maintenance-program\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (PM) program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for your assets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PM program<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> applies <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">regular maintenance activities<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/preventive-maintenance-inspection\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">routine inspections<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and scheduled replacement of aging parts to preempt malfunction, avoid <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">equipment failures<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/useful-life-of-asset\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">extend the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lifespan<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of your machinery<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is contrasted by strategies such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/strategies\/reactive-maintenance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reactive maintenance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, in which <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance activities<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are only performed at the point of equipment malfunction, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">breakdown<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or failure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The importance of an equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance strategy<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An equipment <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/strategies\/preventive-maintenance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance plan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> incorporates <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">routine maintenance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, scheduled servicing, and proactive replacement of parts. This strategic approach is sharply contrasted by a reactive approach to maintenance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reactive maintenance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, also sometimes referred to as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/maintenance-definitions\/corrective-maintenance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">corrective maintenance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">run to failure<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> maintenance, is only applied when equipment presents evidence of dysfunction, or when <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">equipment breakdowns<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> occur. With <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reactive maintenance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it can be difficult to predict:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When equipment might fail<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What components might require service<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How long it might take to repair this equipment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/maintenance-cost-explained\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">costly repairs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> might become<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How much productivity might ultimately be lost during <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/maintenance-definitions\/unplanned-downtime\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unplanned downtime<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In short, the goal of equipment <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/strategies\/preventive-maintenance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is to keep your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">critical assets<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">production lines<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> running in peak condition for as long as possible, whereas the goal of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reactive maintenance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is to simply get equipment back up and running after issues arise. Because the goals of these strategies are different, the outcomes are typically different as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is preventive equipment maintenance?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preventive equipment maintenance refers to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/maintenance-definitions\/proactive-maintenance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">proactive maintenance strategy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that you apply specifically to your operation\u2019s machines and other equipment. Preventive equipment maintenance shares the same <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">proactive approach<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and organizational benefits as preventive facility maintenance as well as preventive vehicle maintenance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The primary distinction is the area of focus. As the terminology suggests, vehicle maintenance is specific to the cars, trucks, and other vehicles among your organization\u2019s physical assets. Preventive facility maintenance includes but is not limited to preventive equipment maintenance and vehicle maintenance. In addition to equipment and vehicle maintenance, preventive <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/industry\/facility-maintenance-software\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">facilities maintenance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also encompasses <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">proactive maintenance activities<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> related to the buildings, infrastructure, and grounds that constitute your facilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> refers specifically to the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">proactive maintenance activities<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> related to your equipment, and is therefore rooted in both anticipating and resolving potential mechanical issues. Goals include improving <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/maintenance-definitions\/equipment-reliability\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your equipment\u2019s reliability<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, decreasing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">equipment downtime<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and extending the operational life of the equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The techniques used in an equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance plan<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are not fundamentally different from those used in vehicle or facilities maintenance. However, there are specific nuances to these techniques when used in equipment maintenance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Examples of preventive maintenance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for equipment<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your team may already carry out various <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">types of preventive maintenance work<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as part of your maintenance and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">facilities management<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> program, such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Conducting <\/b><b>regular inspections<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for signs of wear and tear and other issues that could impede the functionality of your equipment or predict failure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Applying fresh <\/b><b>lubricants<\/b><b> at <\/b><b>time-based<\/b><b> intervals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in order to reduce friction, overheating, and premature deterioration of moving parts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cleaning equipment regularly<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to prevent the buildup of dirt, debris, and other contaminants that might limit efficiency, cause excess wear, or lead to malfunction<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Replacing used and aging parts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at strategically scheduled intervals to preempt failure and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">downtime<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Using sophisticated <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/strategies\/condition-based-maintenance\/\"><b>condition monitoring<\/b><\/a><b> sensors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to collect performance data and perform <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">predictive maintenance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Testing and calibration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to ensure that equipment is in peak performance condition, and to make adjustments as needed\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preventive equipment maintenance: benefits and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">potential issues<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance plan<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offers several well-established benefits, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">uptime<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cost savings<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fewer <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">disruptions<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to productivity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heightened <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/solutions\/compliance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">regulatory compliance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greater adherence to safety standards<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Optimized allocation of labor resources<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Longer <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lifespan<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for your equipment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, a preventive equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance strategy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is well worth the cost and effort of implementation. There are, however, some very real challenges to implementation that your organization must account for first, especially if you are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/resources\/reactive-preventive-maintenance-guide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">transitioning from a fully <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reactive maintenance strategy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Challenges of adopting a preventive equipment maintenance program<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the subsection below, we take a closer look at the challenges your organization may face as you adopt a preventive equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance strategy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The upfront cost of implementation can be high<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as your organization invests in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/maintenance-training\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">training<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and technology required to transition toward a new maintenance system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Skills shortages can make it difficult for small- and mid-sized organizations <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to conduct the various specialized activities (such as inspections, testing, and calibration) required with a preventive equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance strategy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scheduling preemptive <\/b><b>maintenance activities<\/b><b> can be challenging<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for organizations adjusting to the complex logistics of coordinating with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance teams<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and minimizing planned <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">downtime<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, particularly in fast-paced production environments.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Resistance to change may occur<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in organizations undergoing a fundamental shift in their approach to maintenance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Integrating sophisticated <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/cmms\/reports-dashboards\/\"><b>data analysis<\/b><\/a><b> and maintenance tracking software can be complex <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and may come with a learning curve for end users.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All of this is to say that the benefits of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/cmms\/preventive-maintenance-software\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are clear and substantial, but the challenges to adoption reinforce the need for effective planning, proper allocation of resources, and organizational commitment at every level, from leadership to labor.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance program<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for equipment<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The exact approach your organization takes to implementation will depend on a number of factors including the nature of your business, the size of your operation, the availability of resources, and your current maintenance model. However, there are several common steps that most organizations should incorporate into both the implementation and ongoing management of their preventive equipment maintenance programs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementing a preventive equipment maintenance program<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below, we outline a few key steps to implementing a preventive equipment maintenance program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 1: Conduct a criticality analysis<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/how-to-perform-criticality-analysis\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify maintenance priorities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> based on the importance of certain <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pieces of equipment<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to your operations. This process includes a complete identification of all equipment and machinery used by your organization; evaluation of the impact that each <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">piece of equipment<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has on your production, safety, and operational costs; and a ranking of your equipment based on a combination of both criticality and the frequency of required <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance activities<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 2: Inventory and documentation<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For each <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">piece of equipment<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> identified in the step above, catalog all details required for effective maintenance including model numbers, repair specifications, a list of all required <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spare parts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and a comprehensive report on maintenance history. This catalog should also include resources provided by the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/oem-original-equipment-manufacturer\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">original <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">equipment manufacturer<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OEM<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as user manuals, service recommendations, vendor contact information, and warranty information for all components.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 3: Develop <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintenance Procedures<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Schedules<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a comprehensive list of the<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance tasks required for each <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">piece of equipment<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> along with a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance schedule<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the performance of each task. Use your criticality assessment as well as the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">manufacturer&#8217;s recommendations<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to determine both the type of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance activities<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> required for each <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">piece of equipment<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the frequency with which these activities should be performed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 4: Implement a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Computerized Maintenance Management System<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (CMMS)<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leverage leading maintenance and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/cmms\/asset-maintenance-management-software\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">asset management<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> technologies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">streamline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the management of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance activities<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Start by choosing a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/cmms\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Computerized Maintenance Management System<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (CMMS)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that matches your organization\u2019s resources, budget, and practical needs. Input data on your inventory, scheduling, and historical maintenance so that your CMMS can integrate all of these activities into a single, user-friendly maintenance dashboard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 5: Training and onboarding<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve implemented your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/cmms\/cmms-software\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMMS software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it\u2019s essential to ensure that the members of your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/maintenance-technician\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance technicians<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and operators understand how to use it and that there is uniform recognition of its broader organizational benefits. This requires comprehensive training. Your team should be prepared for the adoption of new tracking, inventory, and scheduling technology. Likewise, maintenance personnel should be prepared for a new <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">proactive approach<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to performing practical tasks related to equipment maintenance, inspection, and repair. Feedback from your team can help you refine your programs and boost adoption.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing a preventive equipment maintenance program<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The work of driving your preventive equipment maintenance program\u2019s success does not end with implementation. Your organization must also take steps to manage this new <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance strategy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> effectively.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 1: Initiate <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance work<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naturally, the first step is to begin executing the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance tasks<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that you\u2019ve identified in the section above. Start with the most <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">critical equipment<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Work with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/maintenance-definitions\/scheduled-maintenance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">schedules <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that you\u2019ve created using your CMMS. Be sure to document your work as well as your outcomes and findings, as these will play an important part in making strategic adjustments over time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 2: Monitor and evaluate<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Assess the effectiveness of your preventive equipment maintenance program. Start by identifying <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/maintenance-kpi\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and monitoring your maintenance program\u2019s alignment with these indicators. Conduct regular reviews of maintenance logs as well as <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">real-time<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> equipment performance indicators, and leverage the data analysis tools provided by your CMMS to identify trends, areas of concern, and room for improvement. Create an open feedback loop with your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance team<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and encourage input on maintenance scheduling and procedures.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 3: Pursue continuous improvement<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use the findings from your monitoring, evaluation, and feedback loop to enhance maintenance practices, and be prepared to adapt to shifting operational conditions, improvements in technology, and regulatory changes. In addition to ongoing monitoring, schedule periodic reviews of the entire preventive equipment maintenance program, and make strategic improvements where needed to training, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance procedures<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the use of your CMMS.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Best practices for preventive equipment maintenance programs<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As noted above, your equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance plan<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will be formed in part based on the nature of your business and the equipment you use. However, there are some fairly universal best practices that can improve your chances for success both in implementation and long-term management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Develop and document s<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/standard-operating-procedure-sop\/\"><b>tandard operating procedures (SOPs)<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for maintenance tasks, using checklists and templates to standardize reporting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Utilize a CMMS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">streamline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> scheduling, tracking, and analysis of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance activities<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> including <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/cmms\/work-order-software\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">work order<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> management<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/cmms\/spare-parts-inventory-software\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spare parts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> inventory<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and data collection.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Perform routine audits and inspections<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to ensure that maintenance tasks are being performed as scheduled, according to standards, and in compliance with current regulations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for tracking equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">uptime<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance costs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and response times, and conduct regular performance assessments around these metrics\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Create an open feedback loop<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, establishing a mechanism that allows team members to report issues, suggest improvements, and provide input on equipment performance and maintenance <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workflows<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implemented correctly, your preventive equipment <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance strategy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will do more than simply optimize the functionality and reliability of your equipment. A robust preventive equipment maintenance program will translate into greater operational efficiency, reduced <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance costs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and enhanced productivity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So how can you weather the challenges of implementation and ensure the success of your preventive equipment maintenance program? Start by checking out Limble\u2019s advanced <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">preventive maintenance software<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/resources\/cmms-buyers-guide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">checking out our buyer\u2019s guide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In sectors like manufacturing, the very survival of your business [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[398],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-preventive-maintenance"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v25.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is Equipment Preventive Maintenance (PM)? | Limble<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The right equipment preventive maintenance strategies ensure critical assets are always reliable, available, and dependable.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/learn\/preventive-maintenance\/equipment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is Equipment Preventive Maintenance (PM)? | Limble\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The right equipment preventive maintenance strategies ensure critical assets are always reliable, available, and dependable.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/learn\/preventive-maintenance\/equipment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Limble CMMS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/limblecmms\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-05-03T17:05:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-30T19:01:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"bBrinton\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@LimbleCMMS\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@LimbleCMMS\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"bBrinton\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/equipment\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/learn\/preventive-maintenance\/equipment\/\",\"name\":\"What is Equipment Preventive Maintenance (PM)? | Limble\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-05-03T17:05:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-30T19:01:58+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/#\/schema\/person\/3e46a42975c0af638fd3f8d68520ea39\"},\"description\":\"The right equipment preventive maintenance strategies ensure critical assets are always reliable, available, and dependable.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/learn\/preventive-maintenance\/equipment\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/\",\"name\":\"Limble CMMS\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/#\/schema\/person\/3e46a42975c0af638fd3f8d68520ea39\",\"name\":\"bBrinton\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e5e5528a76b45a9a618c5c97759972e48268f2eaa3b58aa18c80235beeccbf46?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e5e5528a76b45a9a618c5c97759972e48268f2eaa3b58aa18c80235beeccbf46?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"bBrinton\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/author\/bbrinton\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What is Equipment Preventive Maintenance (PM)? | Limble","description":"The right equipment preventive maintenance strategies ensure critical assets are always reliable, available, and dependable.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/learn\/preventive-maintenance\/equipment\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What is Equipment Preventive Maintenance (PM)? | Limble","og_description":"The right equipment preventive maintenance strategies ensure critical assets are always reliable, available, and dependable.","og_url":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/learn\/preventive-maintenance\/equipment\/","og_site_name":"Limble CMMS","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/limblecmms\/","article_published_time":"2024-05-03T17:05:53+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-05-30T19:01:58+00:00","author":"bBrinton","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@LimbleCMMS","twitter_site":"@LimbleCMMS","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"bBrinton","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/equipment\/","url":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/learn\/preventive-maintenance\/equipment\/","name":"What is Equipment Preventive Maintenance (PM)? | Limble","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-05-03T17:05:53+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-30T19:01:58+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/#\/schema\/person\/3e46a42975c0af638fd3f8d68520ea39"},"description":"The right equipment preventive maintenance strategies ensure critical assets are always reliable, available, and dependable.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/learn\/preventive-maintenance\/equipment\/"]}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/","name":"Limble CMMS","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/#\/schema\/person\/3e46a42975c0af638fd3f8d68520ea39","name":"bBrinton","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e5e5528a76b45a9a618c5c97759972e48268f2eaa3b58aa18c80235beeccbf46?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e5e5528a76b45a9a618c5c97759972e48268f2eaa3b58aa18c80235beeccbf46?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"bBrinton"},"url":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/author\/bbrinton\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17187"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17187\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}