Which description best captures preventive maintenance?

• A. Classification of resources allotted to ensure proper operation of a system or equipment under the maintenance program by providing for systematic inspection, detection, and correction of incipient failures either before they occur or before they develop into major defects; durability, reliability, efficiency, and safety are the principal objectives.
• B. Emergency repairs after failure.
• C. Replacing parts on a fixed schedule regardless of condition.
• D. Recordkeeping for compliance only.

Answer: (A)

Preventive maintenance is about acting before problems appear. It involves planned, proactive actions such as regular inspections, monitoring equipment condition, and correcting issues before they develop into failures. The goal is to preserve durability, boost reliability, maintain efficiency, and ensure safety. This approach is different from reactive maintenance (fixing things after they fail), time-based replacement (changing parts on a fixed schedule regardless of condition), or simple recordkeeping (which documents activity but doesn’t perform maintenance). The description that emphasizes systematic inspection, detection, and correction of incipient failures to prevent major defects best captures what preventive maintenance is.