Glossary
What is Maintenance Backlog?
Maintenance backlog is the volume of maintenance work that has been identified but not yet completed. It includes open work orders, overdue preventive tasks and deferred work. Backlog is often measured in hours or number of jobs and by age (e.g. overdue by more than 30 days).
What it means
A healthy backlog is manageable and prioritised; an oversized or ageing backlog can indicate under-resourcing or poor planning.
Why it matters
- Backlog includes open and overdue work orders and deferred PM.
- It is often measured in labour hours or number of jobs.
- Ageing backlog (old overdue work) is a common KPI for maintenance managers.
- Reducing backlog requires capacity, prioritisation and preventive discipline.
Example in maintenance operations
A facility has 120 hours of open work orders and 15 overdue PM tasks—that is the backlog. A plant tracks 'backlog in weeks' (hours of backlog ÷ available labour hours per week) to gauge workload.
Related concepts
Frequently asked questions
What is a healthy maintenance backlog?
There is no single rule. A backlog that is stable or slowly decreasing, with most work completed within a reasonable time and critical work prioritised, is generally healthy. A growing or very old backlog may need more resources or better planning.
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