What is another term for reliability centered maintenance?

Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) is primarily focused on ensuring that systems continue to do what their users require in their current operating context. One of the methodologies that align with this approach is predictive maintenance, which involves the use of data and analytics to determine the right time to perform maintenance. The goal is to anticipate failures before they occur by closely monitoring the condition of equipment and making informed decisions based on statistical analysis.

Predictive maintenance aims to predict when equipment might fail, thereby allowing maintenance activities to be conducted just before failure occurs. This helps in optimizing the use of resources, minimizing downtime, and extending the lifespan of assets. By implementing predictive strategies, organizations can align maintenance practices with the principles of RCM, emphasizing the importance of maintaining system reliability.

Other terms like preventive, corrective, and responsive maintenance categorize approaches that do not necessarily emphasize the predictive analysis foundational to RCM. Preventive maintenance focuses on scheduled activities irrespective of the true condition of the equipment, corrective maintenance occurs after failure has already taken place, and responsive maintenance simply addresses immediate issues without a structured plan.