The maintenance business is customer oriented and must provide value to the customers. The symbiotic relationship which exists between the maintenance business and its' customers is a win-win situation. When the maintenance business is operating at peak performance and efficiency, then the maintenance customers will realize the value of their services as well as reap the rewards. Managing maintenance as business involves managing expectations and balancing costs and service. Identifying maintenance cost drivers is an important factor is the cost and service-balancing act.
Maintenance costs are largely attributable to labor, materials and contract services.
Material costs can effectively be managed and controlled through inventory management practices, procedures and policies. Thus, we can reduce the volatility of the balancing act by concentrating on labor and contract services. What drives labor cost is simply a matter of supply and demand. The demand portion is determined by the amount of work needing to be performed and when it needs to be performed. Understanding this will determine the supply side of the equation.