Which type of maintenance is classified as designed specifically to prevent equipment failures?

Preventive maintenance is focused on performing regular, planned maintenance activities to prevent equipment failures before they occur. This type of maintenance aims to reduce the likelihood of unexpected breakdowns by addressing potential issues before they escalate into significant problems. It includes routine inspections, servicing, adjustments, and replacements of parts based on time intervals or usage metrics. The goal is to enhance equipment reliability and extend its operational life while ensuring that systems function smoothly.

In contrast, other types of maintenance serve different purposes. Reactive maintenance addresses failures after they happen, while predictive maintenance uses condition-monitoring tools and techniques to predict when equipment might fail, allowing for timed interventions. Corrective maintenance involves repairing equipment that has already failed. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why preventive maintenance is specifically categorized as the method designed to prevent equipment failures.