What is a common outcome of neglecting maintenance duties?

Neglecting maintenance duties commonly results in higher operational costs. When maintenance is not performed regularly, equipment is more likely to experience breakdowns, which can lead to unexpected downtime. This downtime not only halts production but also incurs additional costs, such as emergency repairs and lost productivity. Furthermore, the long-term health of the equipment can be compromised, leading to more significant failures that require costly repairs or replacements. Thus, overlooking maintenance responsibilities can create a cycle of increased expenses and inefficiencies within an operation.