What kind of maintenance uses sensors to watch equipment and fix it *beforeit breaks down?

The kind of maintenance that uses sensors to watch equipment and fix it before it breaks down is called Predictive Maintenance. Predictive Maintenance is a strategy that continuously monitors the condition of equipment to predict when a component might fail. Its primary goal is to perform maintenance only when it is actually needed, optimizing the balance between avoiding unexpected breakdowns and maximizing the operational life of the equipment. This is achieved through condition monitoring, which involves deploying various types of sensors directly onto machinery. These sensors collect data about key operating parameters, such as vibration levels, temperature, acoustic emissions, oil quality, or electrical current draw. For instance, a sensor might detect a gradual increase in a motor's vibration, indicating wear on its bearings. The collected data is then analyzed, often using advanced analytical tools and algorithms, to identify trends, patterns, and deviations from normal operating baselines. By interpreting these changes, the system can predict the likelihood and timing of a potential equipment failure. Based on these predictions, maintenance tasks are scheduled proactively. Instead of performing maintenance at fixed intervals (which can lead to unnecessary work or untimely failures) or waiting for equipment to break down, repairs or replacements are carried out precisely when they are most effective—just before a predicted failure, but not before the remaining useful life of the component is exhausted. This approach allows organizations to address issues before they escalate into costly, unplanned downtime or catastrophic equipment damage.