Preventive Maintenance in the Workshop

Preventive maintenance means servicing a machine before it breaks down, based on a schedule or a usage counter. It differs from corrective maintenance, which repairs after a failure. The goal: more availability, less unplanned downtime.

Preventive, corrective, predictive

• Corrective: repairs happen after the breakdown. Simple, but costly in downtime.
• Preventive: servicing occurs at regular intervals (time or machine hours). The best effort-to-result ratio for most workshops.
• Predictive: intervention is based on measurements (vibration, temperature). Powerful, but sensor-intensive.

What does a preventive maintenance plan include?

A preventive plan lists, for each machine, the maintenance tasks, their frequency and who's responsible. Examples in a mechanical workshop: lubricating slideways, checking the oil level, cleaning filters, checking tightening torque, inspecting safety devices. Each task has a due date that triggers a reminder.

What frequency should you choose?

Frequency depends on usage and the manufacturer's recommendations. A machine used intensively by apprentices needs servicing more often. A calendar-based schedule (monthly, quarterly) is often combined with tracking of operating hours.

Preventive maintenance as a teaching tool

In a training workshop, having apprentices carry out preventive tasks builds a key competency of the CFC (federal VET) qualification: maintenance discipline. MECAFLOW lets you define preventive plans per machine, send reminders and track who did what — preventive maintenance becomes a hands-on exercise, not just theory.

Frequently asked questions