The Consequences of Forgetting to Perform Preventive Maintenance

By Jim Fitch
Machinery Lubrication Magazine

Lubrication requires constant attention. Vigilance is perhaps a better word. It’s easy to forget the things we are not motivated to do. Yet, rarely do we forget those activities we are passionate about and desire to do. We are all driven by animal instincts to seek out the things that we enjoy or which give us a gratifying reward.

Because it’s hard to find happiness in performing most routine maintenance tasks, it’s not uncommon for many of them to become periodically forgotten or perpetually postponed. Much of this is actually “conscious forgetfulness”, similar to procrastinating. Why does this happen? It is most likely due to a lack of rigor which is due to a lack of structure, measurement and incentive.