In maintenance, what is the key focus of predictive maintenance?

The key focus of predictive maintenance is on monitoring equipment condition for imminent failures. This approach utilizes various techniques and technologies, such as vibration analysis, thermography, and fluid analysis, to gather data on the mechanical state of equipment. By analyzing this data, maintenance teams can identify trends that indicate degradation or the potential for failure. This allows for timely interventions before a breakdown occurs, thereby minimizing downtime and reducing maintenance costs.

Unlike identifying equipment failure after it occurs, which is reactive maintenance, predictive maintenance aims to anticipate issues before they lead to significant problems. It also differs from performing maintenance based strictly on time intervals, which does not consider the actual condition of the equipment and may lead to unnecessary maintenance. Finally, while replacing equipment before it fails can be part of a maintenance strategy, predictive maintenance specifically focuses on maintaining and optimizing existing equipment based on real-time data and predictions rather than outright replacement.