--- title: "Corrective maintenance: when it makes sense | attendo" description: "What corrective maintenance is, how planned and unplanned corrective work differ, when it is the right strategy and why “zero corrective” is the wrong goal." url: "https://attendo.me/en/glossary/corrective-maintenance" lang: "en" --- # Corrective maintenance: when it is a problem and when it is not Corrective maintenance is the work done after a piece of equipment fails, to bring it back into service. ## Two kinds that do not cost the same - **Unplanned** (the breakdown): the equipment stops and someone has to rush out. It is expensive, unpredictable and the customer notices. - **Planned**: an inspection finds an anomaly and the repair is scheduled before the equipment breaks. It usually costs far less than the first kind. Much of the value of a [preventive](https://attendo.me/en/glossary/preventive-maintenance) plan lies right there: turning unplanned corrective work into planned corrective work. ## When corrective is the right strategy For low-[criticality](https://attendo.me/en/glossary/asset-criticality) equipment, whose failure stops nothing and which is quick and cheap to replace. A light fixture does not need a maintenance plan: it needs someone to change it when it burns out. ## The usual mistake Believing the goal is “zero corrective work.” It is not. The goal is to **decide** which equipment goes to corrective and which does not, instead of reacting without a plan. And to track the ratio of corrective to preventive work to see if that decision is working. ## In attendo Corrective work is a document type with its own workflow, on the same asset as preventive work. What a [checklist](https://attendo.me/en/modules/checklists) finds can become planned corrective work, and [AI-CMMS](https://attendo.me/en/modules/ai-cmms) suggests a likely diagnosis if you turn it on. - [attendo CMMS](https://attendo.me/en/cmms) [Calculator](https://attendo.me/en/calculators/corrective-vs-preventive-maintenance): Corrective vs. preventive maintenance What unplanned breakdowns cost you a year, compared with a preventive maintenance plan you set yourself. ## Where it is used in attendo ### Modules - [Assets and inventory](https://attendo.me/en/modules/assets): Each asset with its own record, QR code, history and readings - [attendo Checklist](https://attendo.me/en/modules/checklists): Inspections with photo, signature and location, closed on site - [AI-CMMS](https://attendo.me/en/modules/ai-cmms): The AI in attendo CMMS: probable diagnosis and criticality - [AI-Chat and DB Assistant](https://attendo.me/en/modules/ai-chat): Ask in plain language. Get answers from your data, with the source. ### Industries that use these modules - [Manufacturing and industrial plants](https://attendo.me/en/industries/manufacturing) - [Energy and renewables](https://attendo.me/en/industries/energy-renewables) - [Testing, inspection and laboratories](https://attendo.me/en/industries/testing-inspection) - [Facility maintenance and services](https://attendo.me/en/industries/facility-maintenance) - [And any other business](https://attendo.me/en/industries) ## Related terms Maintenance ### Preventive maintenance PM Preventive maintenance is work planned by calendar or by usage to keep failures from happening: routine inspections, lubrication, scheduled replacements and regulatory checks. Maintenance ### Asset criticality Equipment criticality Asset criticality is the impact that an asset’s failure has on service, production or safety. It helps you share out a maintenance budget that is always limited. Maintenance ### MTTR Mean time to repair MTTR (mean time to repair) is the average time it takes to bring equipment back into service after it fails. It measures responsiveness, not reliability. ### On the blog #### Corrective vs. preventive maintenance: which one really costs more Everyone says preventive maintenance is cheaper, but few companies prove it with their own numbers. That is why it is the first thing dropped when an emergency hits. Here is the math, including the uncomfortable part: when corrective is the right call. 5 min read [See all 53 glossary terms](https://attendo.me/en/glossary) ## Shall we look at it with your data? We will show you how what you just read works in attendo, with your own assets, tickets and customers. If it is not a fit, we will tell you. - With your operation, not a generic demo - A real person from our team replies - No cold calls afterwards Would you rather talk first? - Phone [+34 910 053 530](tel:+34910053530) - Email [sales@attendo.me](mailto:sales@attendo.me) - Monday to Thursday 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM and Friday 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM (Spain time)