Which term describes maintenance that aims to detect potential faults before failure through monitoring?

Which term describes maintenance that aims to detect potential faults before failure through monitoring?

• A. Planned Maintenance
• B. Preventive Maintenance (condition monitoring)
• C. Predictive Maintenance
• D. Breakdown Maintenance

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is using ongoing monitoring to catch signs of wear or degradation before a failure happens. This approach relies on tracking equipment condition—through vibrating data, temperature, oil analysis, or other sensors—and acting when those measurements indicate a problem is developing. That way, maintenance is scheduled to prevent a breakdown rather than waiting for one to occur.

Labeling this as preventive maintenance with condition monitoring fits because the maintenance task is still planned to keep equipment running, but it’s guided by actual condition data rather than a fixed calendar. It aims to prevent surprises by addressing potential faults while they’re detectable and manageable. This contrasts with breakdown maintenance, which repairs after a failure, and with strictly time-based planned maintenance that doesn’t depend on current condition.