Preventive Maintenance (PM) is defined as scheduled work done on a system to identify and fix any occurring issues before they become problems. The concept of preventive maintenance applies to many different industries. PM is often done on buildings, various types of machines, computers, institutions, as well as personal assets, including finances and property.

A common example of preventive maintenance is a car getting its oil changed. Usually, this is done when the car is in good working order to prevent any future problems resulting from the car running on old oil.

In the past, preventive maintenance was formed solely by personnel, but now computers manage much of the process. Computer programs can schedule the maintenance and send alerts to employees when work is needed. Another name for preventive maintenance software is computer maintenance management software (CMMS). These are software programs that allow users to identify and fix potential problems. Some common uses for preventive maintenance are healthcare facilities, computer hardware, correctional facilities, and personal assets.

Preventive maintenance software works in several ways, depending on what is being maintained, but most types of preventive maintenance software operate on the same principles. The main difference between types of preventive maintenance software for different industries is the asset or equipment being maintained. The core concept behind preventive maintenance for an automobile and a healthcare facility is generally the same. The difference is that an automobiles engine must be kept in running order, while a healthcare facilitys equipment must be kept sterile.

The price range for preventive maintenance software varies depending on its use. Programs can cost about $60 for some personal asset software to several thousand for software used in correctional institutions. Although much of the scheduling of preventive maintenance is automatic and computerized, it is still important that people keep up with the physical aspects of the maintenance, such as replacing old parts and following the softwares recommendations.