Which term describes the ongoing effort to keep equipment ready for service?

• A. Repair
• B. Maintenance
• C. Reliability
• D. Trouble shooting

Answer: (B)

The ongoing effort to keep equipment ready for service is maintenance. This includes regular inspections, servicing, lubrication, adjustments, and part replacements before failures occur, all aimed at keeping gear, hoses, and pumps ready to perform when needed.

Repair describes fixing things after they already fail, which is reactive rather than preventive. Troubleshooting is the process of diagnosing what’s wrong when something isn’t working. Reliability refers to how likely the equipment is to work correctly, which is a goal supported by maintenance, but not the term for the ongoing upkeep itself. So maintenance best captures the ongoing, proactive care to keep equipment ready for service.