What type of maintenance is referred to as breakdown maintenance?

Breakdown maintenance refers to the type of maintenance performed on equipment or facilities only after a failure has occurred. This means that when something breaks down or malfunctions, immediate repairs are undertaken to restore it to operational status. This type of maintenance is reactive, as it does not involve preemptively addressing potential issues before they occur. It often requires urgent attention, as failures can disrupt operations and impact services.

Emergency repairs are typically defined by their urgent nature, necessitating quick action to prevent further damage or service interruptions. Therefore, they align well with the definition of breakdown maintenance, as both involve attending to problems only when they arise. Other types of maintenance, such as scheduled servicing, are proactive and involve routine checks and replacements to prevent breakdowns, while cosmetic enhancements focus on aesthetics rather than functionality and do not pertain to maintenance in a traditional sense.