What defines corrective maintenance?

Corrective maintenance is defined specifically as the act of performing maintenance after a piece of equipment has failed, with the primary goal of restoring it to a functional state. This approach is reactionary; it occurs when a failure or malfunction has already taken place, highlighting its role in the broader context of maintenance strategies. Corrective maintenance aims to minimize downtime and restore operations as quickly as possible, which is essential in environments where equipment reliability is critical for smooth operations.

In contrast, the other definitions pertain to different maintenance strategies. Proactive strategies to avoid failure emphasize preventive actions taken before issues arise, while scheduled upgrades focus on enhancing performance rather than patching problems after they occur. Routine inspections and checks are part of preventive maintenance, designed to identify potential issues before they lead to equipment failure. Each of these options plays a role in an overall maintenance strategy but does not encapsulate the essence of corrective maintenance.