Common maintenance management and CMMS-related terms and definitions. Follow the links under each term’s description to learn more about each concept.
A
Automated Maintenance
Maintenance tasks that are performed with minimal human intervention using automated systems or technologies.Read more →
Asset Tracking
refers to monitoring the location, status, and usage of physical assets in real-time or over time.Read more →
Asset Register
What is an asset register? An asset register is a centralized, structured record that contains detailed information about all the physical assets owned or managed by an organization. This register…Read more →
Asset Management
Asset management in maintenance organizations refers to the systematic process of developing, operating, maintaining, upgrading, and disposing of physical assets cost-effectively.Read more →
Asset Lifecycle Management (ALM)
Asset Lifecycle Management (ALM) is a comprehensive approach to managing an organization's physical assets.Read more →
Asset Availability
Asset availability is the measure of an asset's readiness and ability to perform its intended function when required, expressed as a percentage of total time.Read more →
ABC Inventory Analysis
ABC Inventory Analysis is a method used in inventory management to categorize items based on their value and importance.Read more →
B
Breakdown Maintenance (Reactive Maintenance)
Breakdown Maintenance is a maintenance strategy in which repairs or replacements are performed only after equipment has failed or broken down.Read more →
Bill Of Materials
a list of all the parts and components that make up a particular asset. Not to be confused with an Applications Parts ListRead more →
Benchmarking (Maintenance)
Comparing maintenance performance metrics against industry standards or competitors.Read more →
Barcode Inventory System
Barcode Inventory System is a computerized method of tracking and managing inventory using barcode technology.Read more →
Backordering
What is Maintenance Backordering? Maintenance Backordering refers to placing orders for maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) parts or materials not currently in stock or available from suppliers. Backordering occurs when…Read more →
Backlog (Maintenance)
Maintenance tasks that have been identified but not yet completed.Read more →
C
Cross-Docking
What is Cross-Docking? Cross-docking is a logistics strategy in which incoming goods are directly transferred from inbound trucks or rail cars to outbound vehicles, with little to no storage in…Read more →
Corrective Maintenance
Maintenance tasks performed to restore equipment to its proper working condition after detecting faults.Read more →
Continuous Improvement
Continuous improvement is a lean improvement technique that helps to streamline workflows, resulting in saved time and money for organizations.Read more →
Consignment Inventory
Is a business arrangement where a supplier or manufacturer provides goods to a retailer, but retains ownership until the products are sold.Read more →
Condition Monitoring
The continuous or periodic monitoring of asset conditions to detect signs of wear, degradation, or potential failure.Read more →
CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System):
A software system used to plan, track, and manage maintenance activities and schedules.Read more →
Calibration
The process of adjusting and testing equipment to ensure it operates within specified parameters.Read more →
D
Drop Shipping
What is Drop Shipping? Drop shipping is a fulfillment method where a store does not keep the products it sells in the warehouse. Instead, when a customer orders, the store…Read more →
Downtime
The period during which equipment is not operational due to maintenance, failure, or other reasons.Read more →
Digital Twins
What are Digital Twins? In maintenance organizations, a digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical asset, system, or process that mirrors its real-world counterpart in real time. It…Read more →
Diagnosis (Maintenance)
Identifying the root cause of equipment failure or performance issues.Read more →
Design failure mode and effects analysis (DFMEA)
What is DFMEA? In maintenance organizations, Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) is a structured methodology used to identify, analyze, and mitigate potential failures in the design phase of…Read more →
Demand Forecasting
What is Demand Forecasting? Demand forecasting predicts future customer demand for products or services based on historical data, market trends, and other influencing factors. Accurate demand forecasting helps businesses anticipate…Read more →
Deferred Maintenance
Postponing scheduled maintenance tasks due to lack of resources, time, or priority.Read more →
E
Equipment Maintenance Strategies
The choice of routine maintenance tasks and the timing of those tasks, designed to ensure that an item of equipment continues to fulfil its intended functions.Read more →
Equipment Maintenance Log
What is an Equipment Maintenance Log? An equipment maintenance log is a detailed, structured record that tracks all maintenance activities performed on a piece of equipment throughout its lifecycle. It…Read more →
Equipment Lifecycle
The entire duration an asset is in use, from acquisition and operation to disposal or replacementRead more →
Equipment Depreciation
What is Equipment Depreciation? Equipment depreciation refers to the gradual decrease in the value of machinery, tools, or other physical assets over time due to wear and tear, age, usage,…Read more →
Enterprise Resource Planning
What is Enterprise Resource Planning? In maintenance organizations, Enterprise Resource Management (ERM) software is an integrated system that helps manage and coordinate an organization’s resources, including assets, personnel, finances, and…Read more →
Emergency Maintenance
Unplanned maintenance that must be performed immediately to address critical issues or prevent safety hazardsRead more →
Economic Order Quantity (EOQ)
What is Economic Order Quantity? EOQ is an inventory management formula used to determine the ideal order quantity that minimizes inventory costs, such as ordering, holding, and stockout costs. EOQ…Read more →
Economic Life
What is the Economic Life of Assets? Economic life represents the optimal period when an asset provides the most significant net financial benefit to an organization, balancing acquisition costs, operating…Read more →
F
Fleet Maintenance
What is Fleet Maintenance? Fleet maintenance refers to the systematic process of keeping a company’s vehicles (its “fleet”) in optimal working condition through regular inspection, servicing, repair, and asset management.…Read more →
Fixed Time Maintenance (FTM)
What is Fixed-Time Maintenance (FTM) Fixed-time maintenance (FTM) is a foundational preventive maintenance strategy in which organizations perform maintenance activities at predetermined, regular intervals, regardless of the asset’s current condition.…Read more →
Fault Tree Analysis
What is Fault Tree Analysis? Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is a sophisticated, systematic approach to understanding and preventing equipment failures. At its core, FTA is a deductive reasoning tool that…Read more →
Failure Modes
The various ways in which equipment can fail, including mechanical, electrical, or operational failures.Read more →
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
What is Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)? Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a structured analytical methodology used to identify and evaluate potential ways a system, design, process,…Read more →
Facility Manager
What is a Facility Manager? A Maintenance Manager is a skilled professional responsible for overseeing all maintenance operations within an organization. They ensure the optimal functioning of facilities, equipment, and…Read more →
Facility Maintenance
What is Facility Maintenance? Facility maintenance encompasses all activities and services required to ensure the built environment functions as intended, maintaining buildings’ structural, mechanical, and aesthetic components. This comprehensive approach…Read more →
G
General Maintenance
What is General Maintenance? General maintenance refers to routine tasks to keep equipment, machinery, or infrastructure in good working condition. These tasks are essential for preventing unexpected breakdowns, maintaining performance,…Read more →
Gap Analysis
The process of comparing current maintenance practices with desired standards or benchmarks to identify areas for improvement.Read more →
H
Hazardous Materials Management
Hazardous materials management involves safely handling, storing, and disposing of substances that pose a risk to human health, safety, or the environment during maintenance activities. These materials can include chemicals,…Read more →
Handover Maintenance
What is Handover Maintenance? Handover in maintenance refers to the formal transfer of responsibility for equipment or a maintenance task from one party to another, often between maintenance shifts, teams,…Read more →
I
Inventory Management
What is Inventory Management? Inventory Management is a systematic and strategic approach to overseeing and controlling the flow of goods, materials, and resources within an organization. It encompasses the entire…Read more →
J
Just-in-Time (JIT) Maintenance
What is Just-in-Time Maintenance (JIT)? Just-in-Time (JIT) in inventory management is a strategy designed to enhance efficiency and reduce waste by receiving goods only as they are needed in the…Read more →
Just-in-Time (JIT) Inventory
What is Just-in-Time (JIT) Inventory? Just-in-time inventory management is a strategic approach in which materials, components, and products are received exactly when needed in the production process or for service…Read more →
K
Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
What are Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)? Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in maintenance are measurable metrics used to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of maintenance activities. KPIs provide insights into how…Read more →
L
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
Lockout/tagout (LOTO) is a safety procedure used in maintenance to ensure that equipment is properly shut off and cannot be restarted until maintenance or repair work is completed. This procedure…Read more →
Lifecycle Costing
a method used to estimate the total cost of ownership of an asset over its entire lifespan, from acquisition to disposalRead more →
Lean Manufacturing
Lean Manufacturing is a systematic approach to production that focuses on maximizing customer value while minimizing waste. This methodology originated from Toyota’s Production System (TPS) in the mid-20th century, which…Read more →
Lean Maintenance
What is Lean Maintenance? Lean Maintenance is a systematic approach to maintenance management that focuses on eliminating waste, optimizing processes, and delivering maximum value with minimum resources. This methodology adapts…Read more →
Lean Inventory Management
What is Lean Inventory Management? Lean Inventory Management is a methodology that focuses on minimizing inventory waste while ensuring materials and products are available when needed. This approach evolved from…Read more →
M
Meter Based Maintenance
What is Meter-Based Maintenance? Meter-based maintenance (MBM) is a strategy that schedules equipment maintenance based on actual usage metrics (like operating hours, cycles, or distance) rather than fixed calendar intervals.…Read more →
Mean Time to Resolve (MTTR)
What is Mean Time to Resolve (MTTR) Mean Time to Resolve (MTTR) is a critical maintenance service management and operations metric. It measures the average time required to fully resolve…Read more →
Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)
What is Meat Time to Repair (MTTR)? Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) is a maintenance metric that measures the average time it takes to repair equipment after a failure occurs.…Read more →
Mean Time To Recovery (MTTR)
What is Mean Time To Recovery? Mean Time To Recovery (MTTR) is a critical reliability engineering and IT operations metric. It measures the average time required to restore a system,…Read more →
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)
What is Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)? Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) is a key performance indicator measuring the average time an asset or piece of equipment operates before it…Read more →
Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
What is Material Requirements Planning (MRP)? Material Requirements Planning is a production planning, scheduling, and inventory control system that helps organizations manage manufacturing processes. Developed in the 1960s, MRP addresses…Read more →
Maintenance Triggers
is a specific condition, event, or measurement that signals when maintenance work should be performedRead more →
Maintenance Strategy
A maintenance strategy is a comprehensive, systematic framework organizations develop to manage and maintain their physical assets throughout their lifecycle. At its core, a maintenance strategy is an organization’s philosophy…Read more →
Maintenance SOP
What is Maintenance SOP? A Maintenance Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a detailed, written document that establishes the steps to perform specific maintenance tasks consistently and safely. Maintenance standard operating…Read more →
Maintenance Scheduling
What is Maintenance Scheduling? Maintenance scheduling is systematically planning and organizing maintenance activities across facilities, equipment, and assets. It involves coordinating labor, parts, tools, and time to ensure regular upkeep…Read more →
Maintenance Repair and Operations (MRO)
What is Maintenance Repair and Operations? Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) refers to the activities, supplies, equipment, and processes needed to keep an organization’s facilities and equipment functioning properly. MRO…Read more →
Maintenance Planning
The process of scheduling and coordinating maintenance tasks to ensure minimal disruption and efficient use of resources.Read more →
Maintenance Manager
What is a Maintenance Manager? A Maintenance Manager oversees all maintenance operations, equipment reliability, and facility upkeep within an organization. Think of them as orchestra conductors—they coordinate various teams and…Read more →
Maintenance Management
What is Maintenance Management? Maintenance Management is a systematic approach to overseeing and controlling the maintenance activities within an organization to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and longevity of assets and…Read more →
Maintenance Inspection
What is Maintenance Inspection? A maintenance inspection is a systematic process of examining, evaluating, and documenting the condition of physical assets, equipment, or facilities. This process involves trained personnel using…Read more →
Maintenance Engineer
What is a maintenance engineer? A Maintenance Engineer combines engineering expertise with hands-on technical knowledge to develop, oversee, and optimize industrial equipment, facilities, and systems maintenance strategies. They serve as…Read more →
Machine Maintenance
Machine maintenance is the set of regular activities performed to keep equipment working properly and prevent breakdowns. Think of it like taking care of a car – just as a…Read more →
Machine Availability
What is machine availability? Machine availability is a crucial performance metric that measures when equipment or machinery is ready and can perform its intended function when needed. Think of it…Read more →
N
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
What is Non-Destructive Testing? Non-Destructive testing (NDT) refers to various analytical techniques used to evaluate and inspect materials, components, or systems without damaging the original item being tested. Think of…Read more →
O
Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
What is OEE? Imagine you’re baking cookies in your kitchen. You plan to bake for 4 hours but spend 1 hour looking for ingredients and fixing your mixer (availability loss).…Read more →
