CMMS
Computerized Maintenance Management System used to manage assets, work orders and preventive maintenance.
CMMS software helps organizations plan, track and optimize maintenance activities, equipment history and spare parts in one place.
Glossary
Maintenance Management Glossary
This glossary defines key maintenance management terms used in CMMS, work orders, preventive maintenance and field service. Use it to clarify concepts and find related solutions.
Work order
A formal request or task to perform maintenance, repair or service on an asset or at a location.
Work orders are the core unit of maintenance execution: they assign work to technicians, track status and can be linked to quotes and invoices.
Preventive maintenance
Planned maintenance performed on a schedule or trigger to reduce failures and extend asset life.
Unlike reactive (fix-after-failure) approaches, preventive maintenance uses intervals or usage to trigger inspections and servicing before breakdowns occur.
Reactive maintenance
Maintenance performed after a failure or breakdown occurs.
Reactive maintenance is run-to-failure: repairs happen when equipment stops working. It can be cost-effective for low-criticality assets but often increases downtime and cost for critical equipment.
Asset management
The practice of tracking, maintaining and optimizing physical assets over their lifecycle.
Asset management includes registering equipment, recording history, scheduling maintenance and managing parts so teams can maximize uptime and control costs.
Maintenance scheduling
Planning and assigning maintenance tasks by time, frequency or usage.
Scheduling ensures the right work is done at the right time—recurring inspections, seasonal servicing and resource allocation—often automated by CMMS.
Service dispatch
Assigning and routing field technicians to jobs or sites.
Service dispatch covers who does what and where: assigning work orders to technicians, optimizing routes and keeping customers updated on arrival and completion.
Field service management
Managing technicians, jobs and customer interactions for work performed at customer sites.
FSM covers the full field service cycle: scheduling, dispatch, mobile access, parts, and invoicing—often combined with CMMS for contract maintenance companies.
Maintenance contract
An agreement to perform recurring maintenance or support for a client over a period.
Maintenance contracts define scope, frequency and pricing; software helps manage renewals, scheduled visits and work orders tied to each contract.
Technician dispatch
Sending the right technician to the right job with the right information and parts.
Dispatch involves assigning work orders, communicating job details and tracking completion. Software can support skills-based assignment and real-time status.