Plant Operation Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The key distinction highlighted in the correct choice is that reactive maintenance occurs in response to a failure, whereas proactive maintenance is designed to prevent failures from happening in the first place. This preventive approach involves strategies such as regular inspections, scheduled maintenance, and condition monitoring, all aimed at identifying and remedying potential issues before they lead to equipment breakdowns.

By focusing on preventing failures, proactive maintenance not only helps in maintaining equipment reliability but can also reduce downtime and repair costs in the long run. This approach tends to enhance operational efficiency and safety, fostering an environment where systems function optimally.

The other choices do not accurately describe the fundamental difference. For instance, maintenance schedules vary for both reactive and proactive maintenance strategies; they are not solely defined by their flexibility or rigidity. Additionally, the claim about safety is misleading, as both forms of maintenance can impact employee safety in different ways, with proactive maintenance generally being the more effective approach for safety enhancement by avoiding abrupt failures. Lastly, while costs can vary, proactive maintenance often saves more money over time due to reduced emergency repairs and improved operational consistency compared to reactive maintenance practices.