What term refers to routine checks of equipment to prevent failure?

The term that refers to routine checks of equipment to prevent failure is preventive maintenance. This practice involves regularly scheduled inspections, servicing, and maintenance activities aimed at identifying and addressing potential issues before they lead to equipment breakdowns. By performing preventive maintenance, maintenance workers can help extend the life of equipment, reduce the risk of unexpected failures, and ensure that operations run smoothly.

Preventive maintenance is designed strategically to mitigate risks and enhance the overall reliability of equipment, thereby avoiding costly repairs and downtime that can occur with reactive approaches. Such activities may include lubrication, adjustments, cleaning, and part replacements based on predetermined schedules rather than equipment condition. This proactive approach contrasts sharply with corrective maintenance, which is reactive and addresses problems after they occur, and other forms of maintenance that focus on unexpected equipment failures.