What Is Preventive Maintenance? A Manufacturer’s Guide to Getting Ahead of Breakdowns
In the world of manufacturing and equipment servicing, waiting for things to break is a losing strategy. Reactive maintenance may seem cost-effective in the short term — but it leads to unplanned downtime, safety risks, and ballooning repair costs over time.
Enter preventive maintenance: a proactive approach that keeps machines running, budgets predictable, and customers happy.
What Is Preventive Maintenance?
Preventive maintenance (PM) is the routine inspection, servicing, and replacement of machine parts to prevent equipment failure before it happens. It's planned, repeatable, and often based on time, usage, or condition thresholds.
📌 Think of it like brushing your teeth — not because you have a cavity, but to prevent one.
Why It Matters: The ROI Is Clear
Types of Preventive Maintenance
| Type |
Trigger |
Example |
| Time-based |
Every X days, weeks, or months |
Quarterly HVAC system inspection |
| Usage-based |
After X hours or cycles |
Lubrication every 500 machine hours |
| Condition-based |
When sensor data crosses threshold |
Replace belt when vibration exceeds limit |
Real-World Examples
Factory Perspective:
A packaging line performs monthly visual inspections and biannual bearing replacements — reducing unplanned stoppages by 40%.
OEM Perspective:
An equipment supplier uses Makula’s Asset Hub to schedule preventive field service visits based on machine run hours logged remotely by customers.
Preventive vs Reactive vs Corrective Maintenance
| Maintenance Type |
Trigger |
Cost |
Risk |
Tools Used |
| Preventive |
Scheduled (time/usage/condition) |
Medium |
Low |
CMMS, Makula |
| Reactive |
After failure |
High |
High |
Manual logs, emergency dispatch |
| Corrective |
Post-inspection findings |
Medium |
Medium |
Work orders, inspection reports |
Challenges (And How Tools Solve Them)
| Challenge |
Traditional Pain |
Digital Solution |
| Missed Inspections |
Paper-based schedules and reminders |
Makula CMMS with automated notifications and calendar logic |
| Data Silos |
Spreadsheets, inboxes, disconnected apps |
Makula Asset Hub and Customer Portal unify machine, service, and customer data |
| No Customer Visibility |
Support tickets and phone calls dominate |
Makula’s branded self-service portals with QR, manuals, and service status |
How Makula Helps
Makula supports preventive maintenance for both factories and OEMs, offering a unified platform that adapts to different workflows:
- Factories use Asset Hub + CMMS for internal work orders and repair tracking
- OEMs use Asset Hub + Field Service + Customer Portal to schedule site visits and give customers branded access to their machines
See Preventive Maintenance in Action
Discover how Makula helps OEMs and factories reduce downtime, simplify workflows, and improve service visibility.
Book a Demo
Frequently Asked Questions
Is preventive maintenance the same as scheduled maintenance?
Not exactly. Scheduled maintenance is based solely on time intervals. Preventive maintenance can also be triggered by usage levels or real-time condition data.
Can Makula be used without replacing our ERP or MES?
Yes — Makula is designed to integrate with your existing tech stack. It handles maintenance, assets, and service workflows without needing to replace core systems.
Is this suitable for both OEMs and internal maintenance teams?
Absolutely. Makula offers tailored modules: Asset Hub + CMMS for factories, and Asset Hub + Field Service + Customer Portal for OEMs.
What’s the fastest way to get started?
Book a personalised demo and our team will walk you through your best-fit configuration based on your industry and maturity level.
