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 main idea is using real-time or periodic data from equipment to catch early signs of wear or fault development before a failure happens, and then acting to prevent that failure. When monitoring drives the need for maintenance, it aligns with preventive maintenance that is guided by condition data—meaning you perform upkeep because the machine’s condition indicates a potential problem, not just because of a calendar schedule. This approach stops failures by intervening at the right moment, rather than waiting for a failure (breakdown maintenance) or sticking to a fixed schedule regardless of current wear (planned maintenance). It’s distinct from predictive maintenance in that the emphasis here is on preventing failure based on observed condition, rather than strictly predicting the exact time of failure, though condition data is the common foundation.