What is included in scheduled maintenance?
Scheduled maintenance consists of planned inspections, servicing, and part replacements performed at set intervals to prevent failures and extend asset life. It aims to keep equipment reliable, safe, and compliant with relevant standards.
Across industries, the exact tasks vary by asset type, usage, and regulatory requirements. Yet most programs share a core set of activities—inspections, routine servicing, updates, backups, testing, and thorough documentation—organized around OEM guidelines and risk-based planning.
What scheduled maintenance typically includes
Below is a broad overview of the core tasks that appear in most preventive maintenance plans. The items reflect common industry practice and are adapted to specific assets and environments.
- Inspections and diagnostics to assess condition, performance, and safety
- Cleaning, lubrication, tightening, and basic servicing to prevent wear
- Replacement of wear items and consumables (filters, belts, hoses, fluids, seals) at recommended intervals
- Software and firmware updates for devices, systems, and control software
- Calibration and performance testing to verify accuracy and efficiency
- Data backups, restoration tests, and integrity checks for IT and data-dependent assets
- Security updates, patches, and vulnerability management where applicable
- Documentation of work performed, parts used, and scheduling of the next service
- Safety verifications and regulatory compliance checks
- Minor repairs or adjustments to restore equipment to specification
Regular, repeatable tasks help prevent unplanned downtime, optimize performance, and support safety and compliance across environments.
In vehicles and industrial equipment
In vehicles and machinery, scheduled maintenance often follows maker-recommended intervals based on distance, hours of operation, or cycles. It typically includes a mix of fluid management, wear item replacement, and safety checks tailored to the asset.
- Oil and filter changes and fluid level checks
- Brake inspection, tire condition, and alignment checks
- Belts, hoses, and seals inspection or replacement as needed
- Battery testing and electrical system checks
- Lights, wipers, and safety systems verification
- Diagnostic scans for fault codes and sensor health
- Record-keeping and scheduling of the next service
Practically, the schedule is influenced by usage patterns, operating environment, and manufacturer recommendations.
IT systems and data management
IT maintenance centers on keeping hardware and software secure, available, and up to date. It encompasses routine care for servers, networks, endpoints, and applications.
- Patch and firmware updates for operating systems, applications, and devices
- Regular data backups and verification of restore capabilities
- Proactive monitoring of uptime, performance, capacity, and health metrics
- Antivirus updates and malware scans
- Configuration management and change control
- Security hardening, vulnerability scanning, and remediation
- Documentation, runbooks, and incident response planning
- Disaster recovery testing and failover rehearsals
A well-structured IT maintenance program aligns with business continuity goals and regulatory requirements, reducing risk and downtime.
Facilities and building systems
Building maintenance covers the systems that keep occupants safe, comfortable, and compliant with health and safety standards.
- HVAC filter changes, system cleaning, and performance checks
- Environmental monitoring for temperature and humidity
- Plumbing inspections and leak detection
- Electrical safety checks and breaker tests
- Fire alarm, suppression, and life-safety system tests
- Elevator or hoist inspections where applicable
- Generator and power backup testing and fuel management
- Roof and exterior inspections, weatherproofing, and drainage checks
- Grounds maintenance and safety-related improvements as needed
These tasks protect occupant safety, energy efficiency, and regulatory compliance, while helping avoid costly outages.
Summary
Scheduled maintenance is a proactive discipline that blends routine inspections, servicing, and updates to extend asset life, improve reliability, and safeguard safety. While the exact components vary by asset class—be it vehicles, IT systems, or facilities—the overarching goal remains the same: prevent problems before they arise through planned, repeatable actions, thorough documentation, and data-driven scheduling. Businesses typically tailor programs to manufacturer guidance, usage patterns, risk assessments, and regulatory demands to keep operations running smoothly.
What does scheduled maintenance consist of?
Scheduled maintenance includes inspections, adjustments, regular service, and planned shutdowns. An example of scheduled maintenance occuring at repeating intervals is changing a bearing on a conveyor belt every 30 days or inspecting the condition of a motor every 90 days.
What is the 10 rule in maintenance?
The 10 percent rule states that for PMs to be effective, all PM activities must be performed within 10% of their due date. For example, if you give 30 days for your team to accomplish a PM activity, it should be accomplished within 3 (10% of 30 is 3) days of the due date.
What is an example of scheduled maintenance?
Examples of scheduled maintenance include recurring tasks like monthly vehicle oil changes or quarterly HVAC servicing, as well as one-time tasks like replacing a worn-out machine part after a problem is identified. Other examples include regular software updates, periodic hardware inspections, and routine data backups.
Recurring scheduled maintenance
- Vehicles: Oil changes every 3,000 miles or 3 months; safety checks and tire rotations at regular intervals.
- Manufacturing equipment: Lubricating moving parts, replacing filters, or inspecting motors every 90 days.
- Buildings: Changing air filters for HVAC systems twice a year (e.g., March and September).
- Software: Applying regular updates and patches to fix bugs and security vulnerabilities.
- Computers: Performing scheduled data backups to prevent loss.
- Safety equipment: Testing fire alarms, emergency lights, or other safety controls periodically.
One-time scheduled maintenance
- Repairing a specific part: Scheduling a technician to replace a worn-out blade on a cutting machine after a quick inspection reveals the issue.
- Performing a planned shutdown: Scheduling a specific time to shut down a system for a larger, one-off maintenance task.
- Addressing an identified problem: Creating a work order to inspect and repair an air conditioner after a technician detects an issue.
What is considered poor car maintenance?
Issues like dirty air filters, clogged fuel injectors, engine and transmission wear, and low tire pressure can all contribute to sluggish performance, affecting both your car's speed and responsiveness.
