Maintenance originates from the English noun meaning protection, preservation, and upkeep. In this sense, maintenance is the regular and periodic technical care activity aimed at promptly detecting any possible failures. Thanks to this, decisions on repair or replacement of one or more components or assemblies can be made quickly to maintain performance parameters, ensuring that machinery and equipment operate smoothly with the productivity and speed determined from the beginning.

According to the Business Dictionary, maintenance is defined as: the necessary activities carried out to preserve the original condition of resources or assets for as long as possible by compensating for normal wear and tear. This activity will incur a portion of recurring costs to maintain the operating condition of the asset but does not mean extending its lifespan. This is an expense unlike capital improvements, and therefore not capitalized.

In short: Maintenance is the technical care activity of adjusting, repairing, or replacing one or more components or assemblies to maintain or restore operating parameters, ensuring that machinery and equipment operate at the predetermined productivity, speed, and load.

1.2: The Nature of Maintenance in a Factory
When it comes to maintenance, many businesses assume that the objects of maintenance are limited to machinery and equipment in the workshop. However, in a broader sense, maintenance activities should be given attention in all areas related to a company&rsquos production and business operations.

The scope of maintenance includes workshops, production sites, production machinery and equipment, elevators, air conditioning systems, generators, and even cafeterias and public restrooms.

1.3: The Significance of Maintenance Activities in a Factory

As we know, along with human resources, machinery and equipment are indispensable factors in production activities. Proper and timely maintenance of machinery and equipment is extremely important, as it brings the following benefits:

For Equipment

• Reduce wear, damage, and extend the lifespan of machinery
  Regular inspections help detect errors that arise during operation, thereby preventing serious problems that could cause damage and wear. Proper maintenance extends the service life of machinery, allowing it to operate better and more safely for users.

• Improve the efficiency of equipment and machinery
  Although machines are inanimate objects, they also experience "fatigue" after long periods of work. The life cycle of machinery goes through the stages: Operation &ndash Breakdown &ndash Repair &ndash Operation &ndash Replacement. However, the duration of this cycle can vary depending on whether the machinery is properly maintained and serviced.

• Ensure the stability of business operations
  Naturally, if machinery operates well, downtime caused by breakdowns and repairs is minimized. This helps avoid production interruptions, thereby ensuring smoother and more stable business operations.

For Businesses

• Save costs for the company
  If companies wait until a corrective maintenance is required after machinery or assets break down, the cost of repairs is always a significant burden. Not to mention additional losses when assets fail and stop working, such as wasted labor hours, reduced productivity, disrupted production schedules, compensation costs, and hiring external repair teams.

Therefore, proper and timely maintenance can be considered a &ldquogolden tool&rdquo for businesses to reduce massive expenses and optimize overall resources. Maintenance plans, especially preventive maintenance, can help companies save budgets because efforts are focused on preventing equipment failures rather than reacting to emergencies.

• Improve workplace safety
  When assets and equipment do not operate under optimal conditions, they pose various risks. Unsafe working conditions may even lead to emergencies when workers have accidents. Preventive maintenance improves the safety of machinery, which in turn enhances worker safety and reduces unexpected accidents in the workplace.

• Care and adjustment of operations
  Maintenance plays an extremely important role in caring for and adjusting technical issues that affect the production process. It ensures that machinery operates at its best, meeting technical standards, quality requirements, and performance expectations.

The objects of maintenance activities include factories, production facilities, machinery and equipment, air conditioning systems, elevators, and more.