How does preventative maintenance differ from reactive maintenance?

Preventative maintenance is characterized by its proactive approach, which involves scheduling regular maintenance activities to prevent equipment failure and extend the lifespan of facilities and assets. This type of maintenance aims to identify and address potential issues before they escalate into more significant problems, thereby minimizing downtime and cost associated with unplanned repairs.

Reactive maintenance, on the other hand, is performed in response to equipment failures or malfunctions. It is unplanned and can lead to increased operational disruptions because it addresses issues only after they have occurred, often resulting in immediate repairs under pressure. This reactive approach can also be more costly due to the emergency nature of the work and the potential for damage caused by the failure.

In essence, the key difference lies in the proactive versus reactive nature of the two approaches: preventative maintenance is strategically scheduled and focused on avoiding problems, while reactive maintenance responds to issues as they arise.