Preventive Maintenance 

Maintenance activities carried out before a system fails are known as Preventive Maintenance. These activities are planned and performed regularly on all equipment and systems to lower the probability of system faults or failures, which will then affect the quality of a company's products or services. 

In other words, preventive maintenance provides organizations with early warning signs of potential operating risks before they develop into larger and considerably more expensive problems. 
 

Key Components of Preventive Maintenance 

There are many key components essential to an actual preventive maintenance program. These are as follows: 

• Employee training: Long-term employee training to upskill and enable them to carry out maintenance tasks. 

• Documentation and records: Comprehensive records of upkeep work accomplished and equipment condition reports. 

• Spare parts management: Ensuring the availability of the necessary components and parts, spare parts, and materials for planned maintenance work. 

• Task management: Defining specific maintenance tasks, coordinating and assigning them to qualified technicians. 

• Maintenance planning: Establishing inspections at regular intervals and maintenance tasks based on manufacturer recommendations or historical data. 

How Preventive Maintenance Supports ISO 9001:2015 Compliance 

Preventive maintenance is explicitly required by the ISO 9001:2015 standard to prevent disruptions at the workplace, allow for continued operation based on current condition of equipment, and ensure product quality. 

Here are some of the key ways that preventive maintenance enables ISO 9001:2015 compliance and ensures quality management over the long term. 

Standardizing Maintenance Scheduling 

Preventive maintenance schedules must be documented to support QMS and HSEQ systems. Without preventive maintenance schedules, the company will be unable to adequately manage preventive maintenance of critical equipment. 

The management of preventive maintenance schedules helps the company to comply with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 and helps them to comply with industry regulatory requirements.  
 

Monitoring System Performance 

By keeping up with preventive maintenance schedules, you can monitor your equipment and infrastructure performance. If you do not have sufficient data, it becomes difficult to ensure that equipment and systems could operate at their highest potential and may cause excess waste in terms of both energy and resources. 
 

Clearly Outlining Maintenance Processes 

Additional proficiency in maintenance processes and procedures provides an organization with a less complex process for training and onboarding staff. Increased employee morale and enhanced workplace safety are examples of the many benefits of strong processes such as the support needed to comply with the ISO 9001:2015 standard and maintain long-term ISO certification. 
 

Proactive Risk Management