Which term describes maintenance performed based on the condition of equipment?

• A. Preventive Maintenance.
• B. Total Cost of Ownership.
• C. Condition Based Maintenance.
• D. Benchmarking Analysis.

Answer: (C)

Condition-based maintenance describes maintenance performed based on the actual condition of equipment, using data from sensors and inspections to decide when action is needed. It relies on indicators such as vibration trends, temperature, oil condition, wear debris, or other measurements that reveal degradation. When these indicators show that performance is deteriorating or nearing failure, maintenance is scheduled to address the issue. This approach focuses maintenance efforts on what the equipment is actually telling us, reducing unnecessary work and preventing unexpected breakdowns.

Preventive maintenance, by contrast, follows a fixed calendar or usage-based schedule regardless of current condition, while benchmarking analysis is about comparing performance or processes to standards or peers, and total cost of ownership is a financial view of all costs associated with owning an asset.