Definition
A maintenance strategy is the documented decision of which specific approach applies to an asset or asset class, based on its criticality, failure behavior, and the cost of prevention versus failure. It is the selection layer above the individual approaches: the decision of which tool fits which asset, rather than any one tool itself.
Key facts
- The decision layer that selects among specific approaches (preventive, predictive, condition-based, corrective, run-to-failure) for a given asset.
- Driven by asset criticality, known failure behavior, and the relative cost of prevention versus letting failure happen.
- Often documented per asset class or criticality tier rather than negotiated case by case.
- Distinct from Reliability-Centered Maintenance, which is a specific structured method for deriving that strategy from function and failure analysis.
Why does Maintenance strategy matter in maintenance?
A maintenance strategy is selected by evaluating an asset's criticality to production or safety, its known or probable failure modes, and whether measurement or inspection can meaningfully predict or detect deterioration before it matters, then assigning the approach that best fits that profile.
How do maintenance teams apply Maintenance strategy?
Maintenance strategy is the general term for the resulting choice. Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) is a specific, structured method for deriving that choice systematically from functions, failure modes, and consequences. Risk-Based Maintenance is another specific method that prioritizes based on risk (probability times consequence) rather than RCM's functional-failure logic.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How is the basic maintenance approach selected?
A maintenance strategy is selected by weighing an asset's criticality, its failure behavior, and whether prevention is more cost-effective than letting failure occur, assigning it a specific approach such as preventive, predictive, or condition-based maintenance.
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