Preventive maintenance compliance (PMC)

What is PMC and how to use it

Free guide to maintenance metrics

Explaining PM compliance

Preventive maintenance compliance (PMC) measures the percentage of preventive maintenance tasks (PMs) that have been completed on schedule in a specified time period. PM compliance is one tool maintenance teams can use to track the effectiveness of their preventive maintenance program and the efficiency of their processes. PMC, along with scheduled maintenance critical percent (SMCP), and planned maintenance percentage (PMP) allow you to optimize maintenance schedules, use resources effectively, and ensure assets are as reliable as possible.

How to calculate PM compliance

To calculate PM compliance, first start by dividing the total number of completed preventive maintenance work orders by the total number of scheduled work orders within a defined period. Then, multiply the result by 100.

PM compliance = # of completed PMs ÷ # of scheduled PMs x 100

PM Compliance Formula

For example, you may have had 50 PMs scheduled last month. Your team completed 40 of those PMs, while 10 did not get finished. To calculate your PM compliance for the month, you would divide 40 by 50 and multiply the result by 100. Your PM compliance would be 80%.

The PMC formula doesn’t take into account the number of late PMs or how late they are. Therefore, it’s a good idea to work with the 10% rule, which factors in late PMs and saves you from turning a blind eye to chronically late tasks completed just before the time cutoff. PM compliance also only accounts for preventive maintenance tasks and not reactive maintenance tasks, regardless of if they are scheduled or not. If an asset breaks down and a repair is scheduled for the next day, this task is not included in your calculation for PM compliance.

If you are looking to benchmark your maintenance operation, world class PM compliance is considered to be 90%.

How to use PM compliance

PM compliance is most effective when used to improve a facility’s preventive maintenance program with the goal of reducing downtime. Preventive maintenance programs have been shown to reduce downtime by up to 20% annually, and tracking PMC is one way to determine if a PM program is working well or not.

Measuring and improving PMC helps to increase accountability and fine-tune the work order process. It’s especially helpful when preparing for audits and identifying long-term solutions to recurring problems as it can tell you if improper work is causing easily avoidable issues.

What does PM compliance mean for maintenance?

Preventive maintenance is a crucial strategy for reducing downtime. But PMs only work if they are being optimized, and completed consistently and on time. Conducting a PM compliance analysis helps maintenance teams target areas of weakness in their preventive maintenance program. Organizations can use parts, people, and money more efficiently while maximizing uptime.

PM compliance can be used to analyze the existing preventive maintenance tasks at your facility and determine if they are still relevant. Preventive maintenance accounts for 60% of all maintenance in a typical organization. That’s a substantial amount of time and money dedicated to these tasks. If they are being completed infrequently, look into if they even need to be completed at all. Eliminating unnecessary PMs can free up resources for other work that will make more of an impact.

Calculating PM compliance can also tell you if relevant PMs aren’t being completed consistently. Once you can identify which important tasks are being skipped, you can begin to find out why. Reasons can include everything from a breakdown somewhere in the work order process to a lack of spare parts or a shortage of labour. Knowing where your resources and processes are lacking can help you find a solution and get your PMs back on schedule so critical assets get the attention they deserve.

PM compliance is also an important tool when preparing for audits. Auditors often look at a facility’s PM program its level of compliance. Failing to comply with critical PMs can be a serious penalty that could lead to fines. Keeping track of PM compliance is a good way to avoid being penalized during an audit and can be a way to prove to auditors that your organization is working by the book.

Your business and PM compliance

Calculating preventive maintenance compliance is one way to allocate resources more effectively, improve health and safety, and ensure assets aren’t suffering needless downtime. PMs are there for a reason — to defend against failure. However, a fractured preventive maintenance strategy can actually open the door to more breakdowns. Tracking PM compliance makes it clear where the gaps are in your strategy. Improving PM compliance can go a long way towards strengthening the reliability of your entire organization and making sure none of your valuable time and money goes to waste.

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