Corrective maintenance—also referred to as reactive maintenance—is a form of maintenance in which repairs and maintenance activities are carried out only after a machine or system has already failed or a malfunction has occurred. Unlike preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance is not performed on a scheduled basis, but rather in response to a specific issue.

Objectives and Benefits

• Rapid restoration of functionality: The primary objective of corrective maintenance is to return affected machines or systems to operational condition as quickly as possible.
• Simple implementation: Since maintenance actions are carried out only when required, corrective maintenance involves less planning effort and fewer ongoing resource commitments.
• Cost savings for low-wear assets: For machines and systems that fail only rarely or where failures have limited impact, corrective maintenance can be more cost-effective than regular preventive maintenance.

Disadvantages

• Unplanned downtime: Because corrective maintenance is performed only after a failure has occurred, production interruptions and downtime cannot be avoided.
• Higher repair costs: Repairs following a failure are often more expensive than preventive measures, as damage has already occurred and more extensive work may be required.
• Safety risks: In the case of critical machines and systems, failures can lead to hazardous situations and increased safety risks.

Typical Measures

• Troubleshooting and diagnosis: Identification and analysis of the root cause of the failure or malfunction.
• Repair and replacement: Repairing defective parts or replacing damaged components to restore functionality.
• Recommissioning: After successful repair, the machine or system is tested and returned to operation.

Implementation

Corrective maintenance requires efficient organization and fast response times. Key steps include:

• Availability of spare parts: Ensuring that critical spare parts are readily available to minimize downtime.
• Staff training: Maintenance personnel must be able to respond quickly and effectively to malfunctions and carry out repairs.
• Documentation: Recording all malfunctions and repair activities to collect data for potential future optimization of maintenance strategies.