Glossary · Maintenance and diagnostics
Spare part
Also known as: Replacement part, Spare
German: Ersatzteil
In maintenance, a spare part is an item intended to replace a corresponding item in order to restore or maintain the original required function of the machine or plant.
- Maintenance
In one sentence
A spare part is an item kept or supplied to replace a corresponding part, so that a machine's original function can be restored or maintained.
Example
The recommended spare parts list for the labeling machine marks the vacuum gripper pads as wear parts and the servo drive as a critical spare.
How it applies
- Engineering: The machine builder defines spare parts, wear parts and recommended stock, with part numbers that are unique and traceable to the delivered configuration.
- Maintenance: Stock levels balance cost against downtime; critical spares with long delivery times are kept on site.
- Safety: For safety-related components, only the specified parts or approved equivalents may be used. A different part can change the safety function and may require a new assessment.
- Documentation: Spare parts lists and illustrated parts catalogs must match the delivered machine version. Repair procedures should reference the exact part numbers, and changes to parts should be tracked under change control. Digital spare parts catalogs benefit from metadata that links parts to procedures and product variants.
Spare part vs. wear part
A wear part is a spare part expected to be replaced regularly because it wears during normal use, such as seals, belts or gripper pads. Other spare parts are replaced only after a failure or at the end of their Lifespan.