What is autonomous maintenance in maintenance practices?

Autonomous maintenance refers to a practice in which operators are empowered and trained to manage basic maintenance tasks on the equipment they use. This approach encourages operators to take ownership of the upkeep and care of their machines, which helps to foster a deeper understanding of equipment functionality and encourages proactive identification of potential issues.

By involving operators in routine maintenance activities such as cleaning, lubrication, and minor adjustments, autonomous maintenance can lead to improved machine performance, higher reliability, and a reduction in overall downtime. It also allows professional maintenance technicians to focus on more complex maintenance tasks and repairs, increasing efficiency across maintenance practices. Thus, option B accurately captures the essence of autonomous maintenance by highlighting the essential role of operators in ensuring the proper functioning of equipment through basic maintenance tasks.