Condition-Based Maintenance
Condition-based maintenance is work initiated when inspection, measurement, or monitoring shows that an asset’s condition has reached a defined action threshold.
What this term means in maintenance
Condition-based maintenance is work initiated when inspection, measurement, or monitoring shows that an asset’s condition has reached a defined action threshold.
How condition-based maintenance works
Condition-based maintenance uses evidence of actual equipment condition rather than relying only on calendar frequency.
Condition information may come from:
- Visual inspections
- Vibration readings
- Temperature
- Oil analysis
- Ultrasound
- Electrical testing
- Pressure or flow
- Wear measurements
- Operator observations
Practical example
A bearing vibration reading increases above the alert threshold. The team inspects the asset, confirms deterioration, and schedules replacement before functional failure.
Thresholds and actions
A condition-monitoring program should define:
- Normal range
- Alert threshold
- Alarm threshold
- Required response
- Review responsibility
- Measurement frequency
- Escalation rules
Benefits
Condition-based maintenance can reduce unnecessary replacement, improve failure detection, and allow work to be planned before breakdown.
Common mistake
Collecting readings without defined thresholds, trend review, and follow-up work creates data without maintenance control.
How this term differs
Condition-Based Maintenance is work initiated from measured condition rather than a fixed interval alone. It is related to Corrective Maintenance, Reactive Maintenance, and Predictive Maintenance, but these terms describe different records, measures, roles, strategies, or decisions and should not be used interchangeably.
Related concepts
Related maintenance terms
Keep exploring connected CMMS, reliability, and maintenance planning terms.
Predictive Maintenance
Predictive maintenance uses condition data, trends, and analytical methods to estimate when equipment degradation may require maintenance.
Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance is planned work performed at defined time, usage, or meter intervals to reduce the likelihood of equipment failure or deterioration.
Meter-Based Maintenance
Meter-based maintenance is preventive work triggered when an asset reaches a defined usage value such as operating hours, cycles, distance, output, or energy consumption.
Glossary FAQs
- What triggers condition-based maintenance?
An inspection, reading, or trend crossing a defined condition or action threshold.
- What types of condition data are used?
Examples include vibration, temperature, oil condition, ultrasound, electrical readings, pressure, flow, wear, and visual inspection.
- Is condition-based maintenance the same as predictive maintenance?
They are related. Condition-based maintenance acts on measured condition, while predictive maintenance attempts to estimate future deterioration.