How does preventive maintenance differ from predictive maintenance?

Preventive maintenance is a proactive approach that involves performing regular maintenance tasks on equipment and machinery according to a predetermined schedule, regardless of the current condition of the equipment. The primary goal of preventive maintenance is to prevent unexpected failures and breakdowns by ensuring that equipment operates optimally through routine checks, servicing, and replacements of parts that are prone to wear and tear.

In contrast, predictive maintenance relies on the use of condition-monitoring tools and techniques to assess the actual condition of equipment in real-time. This allows maintenance activities to be performed only when needed, based on the data collected about equipment performance, rather than strictly adhering to a set schedule.

The effectiveness of preventive maintenance lies in its ability to systematically address potential failures before they occur, ensuring that systems run smoothly and efficiently without the surprise of downtime. This scheduled approach is fundamental in industries where reliability and safety are critical, making option B the most accurate distinction between these two maintenance strategies.