A classic example given for this maintenance strategy would be changing oil and filters every X many miles or hours on an engine. This is done not because the filters have been found to be blocked or because of poor oil condition but because it is believed that the components, if changed at that interval, will still be within their useful life, resulting in the machine avoiding a functional failure before it manifests any symptoms.

This expected point of component degradation is often based on recommendations from the equipment OEM and that information is often derived from empirical study, simulations, and experience gained from reviewing data from their fleet of similar machines.

So with that understanding, let’s discuss Predictive Maintenance, and how it differs from Preventative Maintenance.