Which of the following is a key benefit of implementing preventive maintenance?

Implementing preventive maintenance is primarily focused on the idea of conducting regular, planned maintenance activities to keep equipment functioning efficiently and to prevent unexpected breakdowns. The key benefit of this approach is the reduction in equipment failures. By scheduling maintenance tasks such as inspections, lubrication, adjustments, and replacements before problems develop, organizations can identify and address potential issues before they lead to significant downtime or costly repairs. This proactive strategy not only enhances equipment reliability but also maximizes operational efficiency, ultimately contributing to increased productivity.

The other options, while they may have some relevance to maintenance practices, do not encapsulate the primary intent and benefit of preventive maintenance. For instance, while improvement in employee skills can result from a maintenance program, it is not the core focus of preventive maintenance. Similarly, expansion of service hours might be a desirable outcome of improved equipment reliability but is not a direct benefit of preventive maintenance itself. The notion that preventive maintenance eliminates all maintenance costs is misleading; instead, it is aimed at optimizing costs and reducing unplanned expenditures rather than completely eradicating them.