Which of the following is NOT one of the five basic maintenance programs?

• A. Preventative maintenance
• B. Routine maintenance
• C. Deferred maintenance
• D. Reserve replacement

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that maintenance programs are planned, proactive efforts to keep assets in good condition. Deferred maintenance, however, is not a program you implement. It describes work that has been postponed or backlog that has accumulated, often due to budget constraints or competing priorities. It’s a condition resulting from postponement, not a defined, ongoing program.

Why the others fit: preventive maintenance is a scheduled, proactive approach designed to extend component life and prevent failures. Routine maintenance covers regular, ongoing upkeep that keeps systems functioning day to day. Reserve replacement is a planned, funded effort to replace major components as they reach the end of their useful life. These are identified as formal maintenance activities you manage and schedule, whereas deferred maintenance represents the consequence of delays.