Learning outcomes
- Explain the key principles of preventive and predictive maintenance.
- Carry out a structured practical check or configuration task.
- Recognise common faults, risks and evidence needed for diagnosis.
Module 14 · Lesson 3
Preventive and predictive maintenance
Create maintenance plans using criticality, failure modes, inspections, tests and condition trends.
Before you begin
Asset register, manuals and failure history.
Safety: Use site procedures, approved test equipment and competent supervision. Never bypass a protection or interlock without formal control.
Step-by-step learning
- Rank assets by safety, production, environmental and replacement impact.
- List likely failure modes and detectable indicators.
- Set practical inspection/test intervals and acceptance limits.
- Review maintenance effectiveness using failure and condition data.
Ian's practical tips:
- Do not apply the same maintenance interval to every asset.
- Clean, cool and tight electrical equipment tends to live longer.
Fault-finding questions
- What should be happening, and what evidence proves it?
- Where is the last known correct signal, voltage, state or process condition?
- What changed immediately before the fault?
- Can the system be divided into smaller testable sections?
Practical activity
Create a one-page test record for this lesson. Include expected values, measured results, equipment used, risks controlled, defects found and the final proven condition.