Glossary

Explore Maintenance Terms

Glossary:

C

Calibrate

Calibrate means to adjust the accuracy of an instrument or equipment to meet a known standard. Calibration is essential in maintenance to ensure that measuring instruments and equipment are producing accurate and reliable results, which is critical for quality control, safety, and operational efficiency. Regular calibration helps maintain the precision of equipment, supporting effective maintenance and production processes.

Calibration

Calibration is the process of verifying and adjusting the accuracy of measuring instruments and equipment. Regular calibration ensures that equipment operates within specified parameters, maintains quality standards, and complies with regulatory requirements. In maintenance, calibration is essential for preventing errors, reducing variability in processes, and ensuring the reliability of measurements and equipment performance.

Calibration Reliability

Calibration Reliability refers to the degree to which calibration processes consistently ensure measuring instruments and equipment perform accurately over time. High calibration reliability means that instruments maintain their accuracy between calibrations, contributing to consistent product quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. It requires systematic calibration practices and monitoring of instrument performance.

Call-out

Call-out refers to the process of summoning personnel for emergency maintenance work or repairs outside of regular working hours. Call-outs are common in industries where equipment uptime is critical, and maintenance issues must be addressed immediately to minimize downtime and operational disruptions. Effective management of call-out procedures is essential for rapid response to maintenance emergencies.

Capacity Planning

Capacity Planning in maintenance involves determining the resources (such as labor, equipment, and materials) required to meet future maintenance demands. It ensures that maintenance activities can be completed efficiently without overextending resources or causing delays. Effective capacity planning helps in optimizing resource allocation, reducing downtime, and maintaining high levels of service and operational efficiency.

Capacity Utilization

Capacity Utilization measures the extent to which an organization uses its installed productive capacity. It is a percentage indicating how much of the total manufacturing output capacity is being utilized at a given time. High capacity utilization indicates efficient use of resources, while low utilization can signal inefficiencies or excess capacity. In maintenance, ensuring equipment is available and reliable is key to maintaining high-capacity utilization.

Capital

Capital refers to financial assets or resources that companies use to fund their operations and growth. This can include cash, investments, and physical assets like buildings and machinery. Effective capital management ensures that investments deliver the best possible return and support long-term operational goals.

Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional

The Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) certification is offered by the Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals (SMRP) and is recognized globally as a standard of excellence for maintenance and reliability professionals. The certification validates an individual's knowledge and skills in maintenance, reliability, and physical asset management, enhancing career opportunities and professional credibility.

Change Out

Change Out refers to the process of replacing an old or faulty part or component with a new one during maintenance activities. It is a common practice in both preventive and corrective maintenance to ensure equipment continues to operate efficiently and reliably. Effective change-out procedures minimize downtime and ensure that replacements are performed quickly and correctly.

Checklists

Checklists are used in maintenance to ensure that all steps or actions required for a task are completed systematically and consistently. They serve as a reminder for maintenance technicians of the procedures to follow during inspections, repairs, or preventive maintenance, helping to ensure nothing is overlooked and that work is performed to a consistent standard, enhancing safety and reliability.

Chief Maintenance Officer (CMO)

The Chief Maintenance Officer (CMO) is a senior executive role responsible for overseeing all maintenance activities within an organization. The CMO ensures that maintenance strategies align with business objectives, oversees the implementation of maintenance practices, and manages resources to achieve optimal asset performance and reliability. This role involves strategic planning, leadership, and collaboration with other departments.

Cloud Computing

In maintenance, cloud computing involves using remote servers hosted on the internet to store, manage, and process data related to maintenance activities. This allows for real-time monitoring, data analysis, and predictive maintenance, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of equipment. Cloud computing allows organizations to leverage advanced technology without investing in on-site infrastructure.

Common Area Maintenance

Common Area Maintenance (CAM) refers to the costs associated with maintaining and repairing the shared spaces of commercial properties, such as lobbies, parking lots, and elevators. These costs are typically passed on to tenants as part of their lease agreements. In a broader maintenance context, it emphasizes the importance of keeping shared facilities in optimal condition to ensure safety, functionality, and satisfaction among all users.

Compliance

Compliance in maintenance involves adhering to legal, regulatory, and industry standards and requirements. It ensures that maintenance operations, equipment, and facilities meet safety, environmental, and quality regulations. Compliance is critical to avoid legal penalties, ensure workplace safety, and maintain operational licenses. It requires regular audits, training, and updates to maintenance practices as regulations change.

Component

A Component refers to an individual part or element that makes up a larger system or piece of equipment. In maintenance, understanding and managing components is crucial for effective troubleshooting, repair, and replacement activities. Components can range from simple mechanical parts to complex electronic modules, each requiring specific maintenance strategies to ensure the overall reliability and performance of the equipment.

Computer Aided Facility Management (CAFM)

Computer Aided Facility Management (CAFM) involves the use of software and technology to support facility management functions, including maintenance management, space planning, asset management, and operational reporting. CAFM systems help facility managers optimize the use and maintenance of their assets and spaces, improve efficiency, and provide valuable insights into facility operations.

Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)

A Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) is a software platform that helps organizations plan, track, manage, and optimize their maintenance activities. A CMMS facilitates the planning of the maintenance schedule, management of work orders, tracking of maintenance history, and analysis of maintenance data. Implementing a CMMS can significantly improve maintenance efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance asset management practices.

Conceptualization

Conceptualization in the context of maintenance and asset management involves the initial phase of planning and designing maintenance strategies, systems, or solutions. It includes defining the scope, objectives, and requirements of a maintenance project or initiative, and developing a preliminary model or concept that addresses those needs. Conceptualization is critical for ensuring that maintenance solutions are effectively aligned with organizational goals.

Condition Assessment

Condition Assessment is the process of evaluating the current state of equipment or infrastructure to determine its remaining service life and maintenance needs. It involves visual inspections, testing, and analysis to identify signs of wear, deterioration, or damage. Condition assessments are crucial for planning maintenance activities, prioritizing repairs, and ensuring the reliability and safety of manufacturing operations.

Condition Monitoring

Condition Monitoring involves continuous monitoring of equipment and systems to detect potential faults or deviations from normal operating conditions. It is a cornerstone of predictive maintenance, which allows for the identification and remediation of equipment issues before they lead to unplanned downtime.

Condition-Based Maintenance

Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) involves monitoring the actual condition of assets to decide what maintenance needs to be done. CBM dictates that maintenance should only be performed when certain indicators show signs of decreasing performance or upcoming failure. This approach aims to prevent unnecessary maintenance, reduce downtime, and extend equipment life.

Conditional Probability of Failure

Conditional Probability of Failure refers to the likelihood that a system or component will fail, given that certain conditions or events have occurred. This concept is important in predictive maintenance and reliability engineering, as it helps in assessing the risk of failure based on the current state or history of the equipment, enabling more informed maintenance decisions and actions to prevent failures.

Configuration

Configuration in maintenance management refers to the arrangement and specifications of systems and components within an asset. Proper configuration management ensures that assets are set up and maintained according to required standards and operational needs, facilitating effective maintenance, compliance, and performance optimization. It involves tracking changes to asset configurations to maintain reliability and support troubleshooting.

Contingency

Contingency in the context of maintenance planning refers to provisions made for unforeseen events or circumstances that could impact maintenance operations. This includes allocating additional resources, time, or budget to address potential issues that may arise during maintenance activities. Developing contingency plans is essential for minimizing the impact of unexpected events on maintenance schedules and operational efficiency.

Continuous Improvement

Continuous Improvement refers to the ongoing process of identifying, analyzing, and implementing incremental changes to enhance the efficiency, quality, and reliability of equipment and processes. Techniques such as Kaizen, Six Sigma, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) are often used to foster a culture of continuous improvement within maintenance teams.

Continuous Manufacturing

Continuous Manufacturing is a production method where materials are continuously processed without interruption, as opposed to batch production. In maintenance, supporting continuous manufacturing requires highly reliable equipment and rapid response to maintenance issues to prevent downtime. Predictive and preventive maintenance strategies are crucial to maintain the uninterrupted operation of continuous manufacturing processes.

Contract Acceptance Sheet

A Contract Acceptance Sheet is a document that formally acknowledges the agreement and understanding between parties regarding the terms and conditions of a contract. In maintenance contracts, it serves as a formal acceptance of the maintenance services, schedules, costs, and specifications agreed upon by the service provider and the client, ensuring clarity and mutual agreement before maintenance work commences.

Corrective Maintenance

Corrective Maintenance involves the repair or replacement of components in equipment after a failure has occurred. This maintenance strategy is reactive, addressing issues as they arise to restore equipment to its operational state. Excessive reliance on corrective maintenance can lead to higher costs and downtime. Effective maintenance programs aim to minimize corrective maintenance through proactive strategies.

Corrosion Monitoring

Corrosion Monitoring is the process of measuring the rate at which corrosion is occurring on materials, particularly metals, within an industrial setting. It involves various techniques, including visual inspection, thickness measurements, and electrochemical methods. Corrosion monitoring is vital for predicting the lifespan of equipment, preventing failures, and ensuring the safety and efficiency of industrial operations.

Cost Estimation

Cost estimation involves forecasting the expenses needed for equipment maintenance and repairs. This process includes calculating labor, materials, and other related costs to ensure machinery operates efficiently. Accurate cost estimation aids in budgeting, planning maintenance activities, and optimizing the use of resources.

Cost Reduction

Cost Reduction in maintenance involves identifying and implementing strategies to lower the costs associated with maintaining assets and facilities. This can include optimizing maintenance schedules, improving inventory management, adopting energy-efficient practices, and leveraging technology to enhance maintenance efficiency. Cost reduction efforts aim to decrease operational expenses while maintaining or improving asset performance and reliability.

Craftsperson

In the context of maintenance and reliability, a Craftsperson is a skilled worker who ensures the optimal functioning of machinery and equipment. They perform preventive and corrective maintenance, diagnose and repair issues, and implement improvements to enhance reliability and efficiency. Their skills and knowledge are vital for addressing complex maintenance challenges.

Credit Memo

A Credit Memo is a document issued by a seller to a buyer, reducing the amount that the buyer owes to the seller under previous invoices. In maintenance, a credit memo might be issued for returned parts, adjustments in billing, or as compensation for service issues. It serves as a record of the adjustment in transactions between maintenance service providers and their clients or between maintenance departments and internal stakeholders.

Criticality Analysis

Criticality Analysis is a systematic process used to evaluate and rank assets based on their criticality to operations, safety, and overall business objectives. This analysis considers factors such as the likelihood of failure, the consequences of failure, and the asset's role in production. The outcome helps organizations prioritize maintenance activities, allocate resources effectively, and optimize maintenance spending.

Cycle

In maintenance, a cycle refers to the sequence of events or operations that recur regularly, such as preventive maintenance routines or inspection schedules. Each cycle is completed once all planned activities are executed, after which the cycle repeats. Understanding and optimizing maintenance cycles is crucial for ensuring ongoing asset reliability and performance while minimizing downtime and operational disruptions.

Cycle Time

Cycle Time is the total time taken to complete a maintenance task or process from start to finish, including all preparation, execution, and any downtime involved. Reducing cycle time can lead to more efficient maintenance operations, allowing for quicker responses to maintenance needs and minimizing the impact on production. It is a key performance indicator in assessing the efficiency of maintenance processes and identifying areas for improvement.

Cycle-Count

Cycle-Count is an inventory auditing procedure where a small subset of inventory, in a specific location, is counted on a specified day. In maintenance, cycle-counting helps ensure the accuracy of inventory records for spare parts and maintenance supplies, allowing for better inventory management, reduced carrying costs, and ensuring that necessary parts are available when needed. It is an alternative to traditional, full physical inventories, offering a continuous, less disruptive approach.

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