System maintenance is a broad term that includes various types of computer maintenance that are necessary to keep the system running smoothly. Some of the different types of maintenance include curative, corrective, and preventive. These three branches all work towards the same common goal but are used in different circumstances and situations.
If you want your system to run faster, optimize its performance, and ultimately make it a more reliable machine – then regular maintenance is a must. Let’s take a look into these different types of maintenance, and how to utilize them to get the most out of your computer.
Corrective Maintenance
When a failure within the system occurs, corrective maintenance aims to restore that part of the system to its working condition. Corrective maintenance is all about repairing certain parts when they break. This can either be implemented randomly as parts fail, or it can be a part of a broader maintenance plan.
There are two different forms of corrective maintenance: planned and unplanned.
Planned Corrective Maintenance
Within planned corrective tasks, there are two types of maintenance. The first is seen when you use a run-to-failure maintenance strategy. This is when you run a certain part of your system until it breaks down. Then you replace or repair it.
You should only use a planned corrective strategy with non-critical assets that you can replace easily. This approach is seen when corrective maintenance is used on its own.
Planned corrective maintenance can also be a part of a preventive maintenance strategy. This is when you try to find problems before they surprise you, and fix them along the way.
Unplanned Corrective Maintenance
Unplanned corrective maintenance also covers two different scenarios. The first is when a part of your system unexpectedly fails or starts to show the signs of failure. This part is then targeted and fixed.
The other situation is when something breaks between the scheduled maintenance operations during a preventive maintenance run. Corrective maintenance measures are then implemented to fix that part.
Unplanned corrective maintenance is also called curative maintenance.
Curative Maintenance
Curative maintenance is necessary when your machine has broken down completely in a state of disrepair. After implementing corrective and preventive measures with no success, it is time to implement curative maintenance. It is the last maintenance option. This is because curative maintenance requires you to replace the broken parts or even the whole system.
Curative maintenance covers a fairly broad area, as it can apply to minor or major jobs. If an element of your system has a bug or fault that cannot be fixed by other measures, then it needs replacing. This could be a small part of the system or a major component.
The curative method also applies when you cannot fix the broken element with a permanent solution. For example, if you puncture a bicycle tire, you can patch it up but it’s only a quick fix. Ultimately, the tire would need replacing. This replacement of the tire represents the curative method.
The curative method is seen in all areas of a system where total renewal is necessary.
Preventive Maintenance
While corrective and curative maintenance occurs when a fault in the system arises, preventive maintenance takes a more proactive approach. Out of the different types of maintenance, preventive focuses on finding the issue before it occurs or becomes a problem.
Preventive maintenance is less about fixing problems, and more about finding weak points within the system.
With regular checks and routine tasks, you can make sure that the system is operating at its best. The different parts of the system are broken down and observed to ensure that they are in good working order.
Preventive maintenance in a computer system is usually achieved through different software platforms. These include anti-virus checks, running and cleaning programs, and automatic update programs.
Other forms of preventive maintenance can also include backing up your files, and regular cleaning of your machine. Basically, anything that takes a precautionary measure to avoid problems before they occur falls under this category. This is all about taking certain measures to help keep the system functioning at its best.
In short, corrective and curative maintenance fixes problems while preventive maintenance avoids them from happening in the first place. This is the major difference between these types of maintenance.
Managing The Different Types Of Maintenance
There are many ways to make your system run smoother, but maintenance should be at the top of the list. To help you manage all aspects of maintenance, it might be worthwhile to use a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). While it may not be able to fix problems as a maintenance technician can, it can help to make the operations a whole lot smoother.
A CMMS gathers all information in maintenance tasks within a business and helps to organize this with absolute efficiency. It helps to prioritize tasks and makes sure that all aspects of the process are in their places.
Using a CMMS can help to reduce maintenance costs, reduce system downtime, improve work order management, and increase the lifespan and performance of your system. Having a CMMS can also help maintenance technicians make data-informed decisions. Using software to manage and optimize maintenance is a smart choice for anyone wanting to get the most out of their system.
Final Thoughts
Running system maintenance is a necessary procedure to avoid downtime or failures. No matter how advanced your technology may be, there will always be failures in certain areas. Maintenance technicians need to be ready to deal with these different problems effectively to get the system back up and running.
The three different types of maintenance involve unique procedures and are useful in different scenarios. They all work towards the same general goal though. This is to enhance the system and make sure that it runs smoothly without any issues.
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