Maintenance optimization at some stage during operational phase is required. Having implemented a maintenance program based on industry accepted practice such as a RCM study requires optimization. Optimization can be having effective job bundling, maintenance plans, task optimization, task interval optimization etc. Based on standard reliability techniques optimization of task intervals is a reality based on equipment failure history. The basic idea of this approach is that the cost of preventive maintenance is weighted against the expected cost of failures.

In the graph shown the lowest point of curve 'Total cost' gives the optimum task interval based on economic optimization. Hidden failures and for decisions based on risk acceptance criteria can also be addressed.