What is a key characteristic of reactive maintenance?

The key characteristic of reactive maintenance is that it occurs after equipment failures. This approach is synonymous with responding to problems once they arise rather than taking preemptive or preventive measures. In reactive maintenance, repairs are conducted as needed to address issues that have already manifested, which can often lead to equipment downtime and additional costs. It focuses on fixing what is broken rather than trying to avoid breakdowns through scheduled maintenance or monitoring.

Other options emphasize preventive measures, where maintenance is planned and scheduled to avoid failures and monitor equipment regularly, or are based on routine checks, which are fundamentally proactive. Reactive maintenance, by its nature, is often less efficient as it can lead to unanticipated downtimes and a reactive response to issues rather than a systematic approach to equipment care.