Preventive maintenance is a proactive approach to maintaining equipment and systems that aims to prevent equipment failure or malfunction before it occurs. The goal of preventive maintenance is to identify and address potential issues early on, before they become major problems that could result in equipment downtime or costly repairs.

Preventive maintenance typically involves regularly scheduled maintenance tasks, such as inspections, cleaning, lubrication, calibration, and replacement of worn or damaged parts. The frequency and type of maintenance tasks can vary depending on the equipment and the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Preventive maintenance is different from reactive maintenance, which involves addressing issues after they have already caused equipment failure or malfunction. Reactive maintenance can be costly and time-consuming, and it may result in equipment downtime or lost productivity.

The benefits of preventive maintenance include:

1. Increased equipment uptime and reliability
2. Reduced equipment downtime and lost productivity
3. Improved safety for personnel and equipment
4. Longer equipment lifespan
5. Reduced maintenance costs over time

Overall, preventive maintenance is an important aspect of equipment and system management that can help organizations operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and avoid potential equipment failures or malfunctions.