Repair Maintenance & Overhauling

Maintenance, Repair, and Overhauling (MRO) is a critical set of services focused on preserving the functionality, safety, and longevity of equipment, machinery, and industrial assets.

It is often used as a collective term to describe the comprehensive lifecycle management of physical assets.

Here is a breakdown of the three components:

1. Maintenance (Proactive Care)

Maintenance involves routine and scheduled actions aimed at preventing breakdowns and extending the lifespan of an asset. It is primarily proactive.

Type	Definition	Example
Preventive Maintenance (PM)	Scheduled tasks based on time or usage to prevent failure before it happens.	Changing the oil and filters on a compressor every 500 operating hours.
Preventive Maintenance (PM)	Uses real-time data (from sensors, vibration analysis, thermography) to predict when a component is likely to fail, so maintenance can be scheduled just in time.	Replacing a motor bearing only when vibration sensors indicate it has reached a critical wear level.
Routine/Line Maintenance	Simple, frequent checks and adjustments.	Daily cleaning, lubrication, or visual inspection of a production line.

2. Repair (Reactive Correction)

Repair is a corrective measure taken in response to a fault, damage, or malfunction to restore the equipment to its operational state. It is primarily reactive.

Type	Definition	Example
Corrective Repair	Fixing a component after a known failure or malfunction has occurred.	Replacing a broken belt on a conveyor system that has stopped production.
Emergency Repair	Urgent repairs needed to address critical malfunctions that pose an immediate risk or cause major downtime.	Fixing a leak in a vital pipeline to restore essential service.

3. Overhauling (Comprehensive Restoration)

Overhauling is an extensive, periodic activity that involves the complete disassembly, detailed inspection, repair or replacement of worn parts, and reassembly of an asset to restore it to its "like-new" or specified operating condition.

Characteristic	Description
Timing	Comprehensive, often involves dismantling the entire machine or major sub-assembly (e.g., an engine or turbine).
Goal	To extend the asset's useful life, significantly improve performance, and ensure long-term reliability.
Outcome	The asset is essentially reset, reducing the need for minor repairs in the short term.