Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) Practice Exam

What percentage of maintenance work is typically classified as reactive?

1. Only 10%

2. About 20%

3. About 30%

4. About 50%

The correct answer is: About 20%

The answer indicating that about 20% of maintenance work is typically classified as reactive aligns with industry standards and best practices observed across various sectors. Reactive maintenance refers to the unplanned, corrective actions taken after a piece of equipment fails or malfunctions. This percentage reflects an ideal scenario where organizations strive to balance their maintenance efforts, aiming to minimize reactive work through effective preventive and predictive maintenance strategies. Organizations often seek to reduce reactive maintenance because it can lead to increased downtime, higher costs, and disrupted operations. While some situations may drive this percentage higher, a well-managed maintenance operation will ideally aim to keep reactive work at around 20%. This statistic underscores the importance of preventive maintenance programs that help limit equipment failure and enhance operational efficiency.