Definition
Condition-based maintenance initiates work when inspections or measurements indicate meaningful deterioration. Unlike predictive maintenance, it does not necessarily forecast a future failure date.
Key facts
- Triggers can be thresholds, trends, or inspection findings.
- Work is performed based on need rather than only on a calendar.
- Condition indicators must match the relevant failure mechanism.
- Every alarm needs a defined follow-up process.
Why does Condition-based maintenance matter in maintenance?
Examples include vibration, temperature, oil condition, pressure, sound, leakage, and visual findings. The value of the data depends on how well it represents the failure mode in question.
How do maintenance teams apply Condition-based maintenance?
Fixed thresholds are simple but can miss differences between operating states. Trend analysis exposes gradual change and helps separate normal variation from meaningful deterioration.
What is good practice for Condition-based maintenance?
Each alert should have a defined priority, owner, verification step, and potential action. Without that workflow, condition monitoring only produces more notifications.