Preventive Maintenance Compliance
Preventive maintenance compliance is the percentage of scheduled preventive maintenance tasks completed within the organization’s defined on-time window.
What this term means in maintenance
Preventive maintenance compliance is the percentage of scheduled preventive maintenance tasks completed within the organization’s defined on-time window.
PM compliance formula
PM compliance = Preventive maintenance tasks completed on time ÷ Preventive maintenance tasks scheduled × 100
Practical example
A site schedules 45 PM tasks and completes 36 within the agreed completion window.
PM compliance = 36 ÷ 45 × 100 = 80%
Defining on-time completion
The completion window must be defined consistently. Some organizations require completion by the due date. Others allow a controlled tolerance before or after the due date based on task frequency and risk.
The rule should answer:
- When does the window begin?
- When does it end?
- How are approved postponements treated?
- How are cancelled or duplicate tasks handled?
Why the metric matters
Low PM compliance can indicate:
- Insufficient labor
- Unrealistic PM frequency
- Parts shortages
- Weak shutdown coordination
- Excessive emergency work
- Poor scheduling
- Incomplete maintenance plans
Common mistake
Completing old overdue PM tasks can improve completion totals without proving that current work is being executed on time. The calculation must use the scheduled period and agreed completion window.
How this term differs
Preventive Maintenance Compliance is whether scheduled PM was completed within the defined due window. It is related to Preventive Maintenance Frequency, Preventive Maintenance Task, and Preventive Maintenance Effectiveness, 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.
Maintenance Schedule Compliance
Maintenance schedule compliance is the percentage of maintenance tasks scheduled for a defined period that were completed within the agreed schedule window.
Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance is planned work performed at defined time, usage, or meter intervals to reduce the likelihood of equipment failure or deterioration.
Planned Maintenance Percentage
Planned maintenance percentage is the share of total maintenance labor hours spent on work that was prepared before execution.
Glossary FAQs
- What is the PM compliance formula?
Divide preventive-maintenance tasks completed on time by preventive-maintenance tasks scheduled, then multiply by 100.
- What does completed on time mean?
It means completed within the organization’s documented due-date tolerance or compliance window.
- Is 100 percent PM compliance always enough?
No. The organization should also assess task quality, PM effectiveness, approved postponements, and whether the maintenance plan is properly designed.