Which type of maintenance strategy might lead to problems?

Choosing OEM maintenance strategies as a potential source of problems is insightful. These strategies, which are often designed by Original Equipment Manufacturers, may focus primarily on the manufacturer's specific equipment and operational parameters. While they can be beneficial for ensuring that equipment runs as intended, they may not take into account the unique operating conditions, maintenance histories, or specific needs of a facility.

OEM strategies are typically based on generic recommendations that assume standard operating conditions, which might not align with the actual environment and usage patterns of the equipment. In some cases, they can lead to overly conservative or misguided maintenance practices that do not maximize the reliability or efficiency of the assets in question. These strategies can also become inflexible, leading to unnecessary downtime or costs when the unique context of a facility is not considered.

The other maintenance strategies—predictive, scheduled, and proactive—are more adaptable and reactive to the actual condition of the equipment or the specific needs of the operations. Predictive maintenance utilizes data and analytics to forecast potential failures, allowing for focused interventions. Scheduled maintenance is based on interval timings that can be adjusted based on operational data, and proactive maintenance emphasizes eliminating root causes of failure instead of just addressing symptoms. Therefore, they are generally better suited to maintaining a high level of reliability in diverse