Meter-Based Triggers

Meter-based PM triggers when a reading reaches a threshold — ideal when usage varies.

How meters and PM work together

A meter records readings; a meter-based PM is what watches those readings. Recording readings on a meter alone does not trigger anything — you must create a Preventive Maintenance with its Schedule Type set to Meter-Based, pointing to the meter's asset. The PM then generates a work order automatically every time the threshold is reached.

Use Cases

• Oil change every 500 runtime hours
• Belt replacement every 10,000 cycles
• Vehicle service every 5,000 km
• Compressor maintenance every 2,000 hours

How to Set Up

1. Go to Preventive Maintenance → Create PM
2. Set Schedule Type to Meter-Based (or Hybrid for time + meter combined)
3. Select the asset, then choose the specific meter to track (its unit sets the meter type automatically)
4. Enter the threshold — e.g. 1000 for every 1,000 hours
5. Enter the current meter reading as the starting value
6. FreeMaint auto-generates a WO each time the delta since the last service reaches the threshold

Onboarding mid-cycle equipment

When you add equipment that has already been in service — and its previous maintenance was done outside FreeMaint at a different point in the cycle — use the "Next due at reading" field to set the exact reading at which the PM should fire next. Example: a ship's main engine at 6,700 running hours with three PMs every 1,000 h whose previous services landed at different times: Oil change next due at 6,800 h, Fuel filter at 7,100 h, Oil filter at 7,300 h. Type those values directly in "Next due at reading" — no need to lie about the current reading. The field defaults to current + interval when left empty (greenfield setup).

Early or Unplanned Maintenance

If maintenance happens before the scheduled trigger (e.g. an unplanned WO during which the lube oil is changed at 5,587 h instead of the scheduled 5,897 h), simply complete that Work Order with the actual meter reading and tick the matching preventive maintenance under "Satisfies preventive maintenance". The next trigger is rebased automatically (e.g. 5,587 + 1,000 = 6,587 h) and the scheduled trigger no longer fires.

Advance Notification (Approaching Service)

You can be warned before a meter-based plan becomes due so you can prepare parts, manpower and scheduling. On the plan, set "Advance notification" to either a percentage of the interval (for example 95% of a 1,000-hour interval warns at 950 hours) or a number of units before the trigger (for example 50 hours before due). A notification is then sent once per cycle as soon as a reading enters that window, before the work order is generated. Leave it Off to keep the previous behaviour.

Stays due until the work order is completed

An overdue meter-based schedule stays red until you complete its work order — logging a meter reading no longer clears it on its own. The schedule only re-arms for the next interval when the work is actually done, using the reading entered at completion (or the latest recorded reading if none is entered). This matches usage-based maintenance in UpKeep, Fiix and Maximo.

On the maintenance calendar

Meter-based PMs have no fixed calendar date — they trigger on usage. They appear in the “Usage-based maintenance” panel below the calendar, showing each plan’s progress toward its next service. Once a couple of readings have been logged over time, FreeMaint estimates a due date and adds a dashed “~” marker on the grid. With no readings yet, the panel shows a “Log reading” shortcut to get started.