Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) Practice Exam

The objective of Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) is to:

1. Increase downtime

2. Maximize costs

3. Preserve function

4. Reduce training

The correct answer is: Preserve function

The objective of Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) is to preserve function, which means ensuring that assets continue to perform their intended functions reliably throughout their lifecycle. RCM is a structured approach that evaluates the reliability of equipment, identifies potential failure modes, and determines the most effective maintenance strategies to prevent or manage those failures. By focusing on preserving the functionality of equipment, RCM aims to optimize maintenance activities in a way that balances the costs and risks associated with equipment failure, rather than simply eliminating all possible downtime or increasing expenses. This objective ultimately leads to improved reliability, safety, and performance in operational environments. In contrast, increasing downtime, maximizing costs, or reducing training do not align with the core principles of RCM, which is centered on enhancing asset reliability while minimizing unnecessary maintenance and associated costs. The goal is to maintain equipment in a way that it performs effectively without interruptions, which supports the overall efficiency and productivity of the organization.