What is reactive maintenance?

Reactive maintenance refers to actions taken in response to a problem or service interruption that has already occurred, rather than planning for future needs or preventive measures. This type of maintenance is typically characterized by immediate responses to breakdowns or failures in systems or equipment.

When an unexpected issue arises, a reactive maintenance approach comes into play, where technicians are deployed to address the problem as it happens. This could involve fixing equipment that has failed or addressing issues that have caused a service interruption, thereby restoring normal operations.

In contrast, scheduled or planned maintenance focuses on anticipating and preventing issues before they occur, which makes reactive maintenance essentially a last resort, used when issues surface. Understanding the nature of reactive maintenance highlights its role in maintenance strategy as a necessary but secondary approach to ensuring system reliability.