What is the primary tool for planning maintenance in the 3-M System?

The Planned Maintenance System (PMS) serves as the primary tool for planning maintenance within the 3-M System. It establishes a detailed schedule of maintenance activities, ensuring that all tasks are completed systematically and on time to mitigate equipment failure, enhance operational readiness, and maintain safety standards. The PMS provides clear guidance and procedures for maintenance personnel, detailing what maintenance needs to be performed, how frequently it should occur, and the required resources to carry out those tasks effectively.

The PMS is essential because it encompasses the entire spectrum of planned maintenance activities, including regular inspections, servicing, and overhauls, and is crucial in helping maintain the ship's operating capability. By relying on this system, ships can adhere to a structured approach that leads to consistent and reliable maintenance outcomes.

While other tools, such as Maintenance Action Forms or Preventive Maintenance Checklists, contribute to the overall maintenance process, they are ancillary and designed to support specific tasks rather than serve as the overarching system for maintenance planning like the PMS does. The Equipment Maintenance Log also has its place in documenting maintenance performed but does not provide the comprehensive planning framework that the PMS offers.