Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Bearing Maintenance • FMEA • Pump Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance

Term from Mechanical Maintenance industry explained for recruiters

Preventive Maintenance is a planned approach to keeping machines and equipment in good working condition. Think of it like regular health check-ups for machines - just as people go to doctors for check-ups before getting sick, equipment gets checked and serviced before it breaks down. This includes regular inspections, cleaning, lubricating, and replacing worn parts. Companies value this approach because it helps avoid unexpected breakdowns, saves money in the long run, and keeps operations running smoothly. Similar terms include "planned maintenance," "scheduled maintenance," or "proactive maintenance."

Examples in Resumes

Developed and implemented Preventive Maintenance schedules for manufacturing equipment, reducing downtime by 30%

Managed Preventive Maintenance program for fleet of 50 industrial vehicles

Led team of 5 technicians in executing Preventive Maintenance and Scheduled Maintenance tasks

Typical job title: "Maintenance Technicians"

Also try searching for:

Maintenance Technician Maintenance Engineer Facilities Technician Equipment Maintenance Specialist Plant Maintenance Technician Industrial Maintenance Technician Preventive Maintenance Coordinator

Where to Find Maintenance Technicians

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop and implement a preventive maintenance program for a new facility?

Expected Answer: A senior candidate should discuss gathering equipment information, setting maintenance schedules, training staff, using maintenance software, tracking results, and continuously improving the program based on data.

Q: How do you prioritize maintenance tasks when resources are limited?

Expected Answer: Should explain how to assess equipment criticality, production impact, safety considerations, and cost implications to make informed decisions about resource allocation.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What documentation do you maintain for preventive maintenance tasks?

Expected Answer: Should mention maintenance logs, equipment history, repair records, inspection checklists, and how they use this information to improve maintenance procedures.

Q: How do you determine when equipment needs replacement versus continued maintenance?

Expected Answer: Should discuss analyzing repair costs, equipment age, reliability history, and impact on production to make cost-effective decisions.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What basic steps do you take when performing a preventive maintenance inspection?

Expected Answer: Should describe following checklists, checking fluid levels, looking for wear and tear, cleaning equipment, and reporting any issues found.

Q: What safety procedures do you follow during maintenance tasks?

Expected Answer: Should mention using proper safety equipment, following lockout/tagout procedures, reading manuals, and following company safety policies.