Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · Safe work, maintenance and competence

Corrective maintenance

Also known as: breakdown maintenance, reactive maintenance

German: Korrektive Instandhaltung

In maintenance, corrective maintenance is maintenance performed to restore function after a fault or failure. Because it is unplanned, it is often done under time pressure and on equipment in an unexpected state.

  • Machine safety
  • Maintenance

In one sentence

Corrective maintenance restores a machine after a fault or failure, often unplanned and under pressure, which raises its hazard profile.

Example

A jammed cartoner is cleared and a broken chain replaced during the night shift; the technician locks out the machine, releases the tensioner and checks the guard switches before handing it back.

How it applies

  • Machine safety: Faults leave machines in unusual states: parts jammed under tension, loads raised, stored energy not released. Corrective work needs lockout/tagout and a check for such energy before anyone reaches in.
  • Human factors: Pressure to restore production invites shortcuts and bypassed safeguards. Procedures should make the safe route the quick one.
  • Technical documentation: The maintenance manual needs troubleshooting and repair instructions for foreseeable faults, including how to return safeguards to service.
  • Evidence: Repair records feed back into failure data. Repeated corrective work on the same component is a signal to revise preventive maintenance or the design.

Corrective vs. preventive maintenance

Corrective maintenance reacts to a fault that has occurred. Preventive maintenance is planned to keep faults from occurring. Most plants need both.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 25, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: AI TechDoc Blog editorial definition, based on ISO 12100:2010, Safety of machinery — General principles for design — Risk assessment and risk reduction

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Blog and are not part of any standard.

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