Definition
Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) is the procurement and supply category covering goods used to keep facilities and equipment running (spare parts, consumables, tools, and safety supplies) as opposed to raw materials or components that become part of the products a company sells. It is a procurement classification, distinct from the maintenance storeroom, which is the physical facility where much of this MRO inventory is actually held.
Key facts
- A procurement and supply-chain category, defined by purpose (keeping operations running) rather than physical location.
- Distinguished from production materials: MRO items support operations, they do not become part of the sold product.
- Spans spare parts, consumables, tools, and safety supplies: a broader scope than spare parts alone.
- Often managed with different procurement processes than production materials, given typically lower volume and higher variety.
What information does Maintenance, Repair and Operations preserve?
MRO covers the broad category of goods and services procured specifically to keep facilities and equipment operating (spare parts, lubricants, safety equipment, tools, and general maintenance supplies) as distinct from the raw materials or purchased components that become part of a manufactured product.
How do maintenance teams use Maintenance, Repair and Operations?
MRO is a procurement and cost classification describing the purpose of the spend. The maintenance storeroom is the physical facility where a large share of that MRO inventory (spare parts and supplies) is actually stored and issued. MRO spend can also include services and items not physically stocked in the storeroom at all, such as contracted calibration services.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which procurement and supply area does MRO refer to?
MRO refers to the category of goods and services procured to keep operations running (spare parts, tools, and supplies) as opposed to raw materials that become part of a sold product.
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