Glossary•Operations
Reactive Maintenance
Maintenance performed after equipment failure or breakdown occurs, also known as run-to-failure maintenance.
Full Definition
Reactive Maintenance (also called run-to-failure or breakdown maintenance) is maintenance performed only after equipment has failed or broken down. While it may seem cost-effective in the short term, reactive maintenance often leads to higher costs due to emergency repairs, production downtime, potential secondary damage, and lost productivity. Most facility management programs aim to minimize reactive maintenance through preventive and predictive strategies, reserving it only for non-critical equipment where failure consequences are minimal.