The history of industrial maintenance is closely linked to the evolution of industry itself. From its beginnings in the Industrial Revolution, when the need to repair and maintain nascent machinery led to the training of specialized technical personnel, to the present day, maintenance has gone through various stages and transformations.

From Necessary Expense to Strategic Investment

Traditionally, maintenance has been seen as an additional expense, a "necessary evil" to keep machines running and avoid costly production stoppages. However, this reductionist view does not reflect the true role maintenance plays in the production chain.

Currently, leading companies have recognized maintenance not as an expense, but a strategic investment. The maintenance department, when well managed, can generate significant value for the company through:

• Improved operational efficiency: Adequate preventive maintenance reduces the likelihood of unexpected failures, ensuring production continuity and minimizing downtime.
• Extension of asset useful life: Proactive maintenance extends the useful life of machines and equipment, which implies deferring investments in new acquisitions and reducing long-term maintenance costs.
• Energy efficiency optimization: Adequate maintenance contributes to efficient energy use, generating significant savings on the electricity bill and reducing the carbon footprint, and therefore, the environmental impact of the company.
• Improved occupational safety: A safe and risk-free work environment is essential for the health and well-being of workers. Preventive maintenance helps prevent occupational accidents and illnesses.
• Reduction of maintenance costs: A planned maintenance program identifies failures in the early stages so they can be corrected, avoiding costly and prolonged repairs.
• Improved product quality: Well-maintained equipment produces goods or services with higher quality and fewer defects, which increases customer satisfaction and the company's reputation.

Maintenance as a Pillar of Competitiveness

In an increasingly competitive business environment, maintenance becomes a differentiating factor that drives long-term success. Companies that invest in quality maintenance obtain a series of tangible and intangible benefits that allow them to:

• Reduce operational costs, thereby increasing profits;
• Improve productivity;
• Guarantee product quality;
• Improve occupational safety;
• Reduce their environmental footprint;
• Strengthen the company's reputation.

Conclusion

For the most part, industrial maintenance has lost its "necessary evil" view to become a strategic investment that generates value for the company. Companies that adopt a modern vision of maintenance are better positioned to achieve success in a competitive and globalized environment. To achieve this, they must incorporate investment, training and participation of maintenance personnel within their strategic pillars.

Questions to reflect on:

• How is maintenance perceived in your company? Is it considered an expense or an investment?
• What measures are being taken to improve maintenance efficiency?
• Is the maintenance department involved in the company's strategic decision-making?
• Does the company invest in adequate training for maintenance personnel?
• Does the maintenance personnel know how the business operates and do they know the reason for its existence?
• Does the maintenance personnel understand what role they play in your company's value chain?