Repair and Maintenance is fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it get out of order or broken (repair) as well as performing the routine actions which keep the device in working order (maintenance) or prevent trouble from arising (preventive maintenance).

The European Federation of National Maintenance Societies defines maintenance as:

All actions which have as an objective to retain an item in or restore it to, a state in which it can perform the required function. The actions include the combination of all technical and corresponding administrative, managerial, and supervision actions.

In telecommunication, the term maintenance has the following meanings:

1. Any activity, such as tests, measurements, replacements, adjustments and repairs, intended to restore or retain a functional unit in a specified state in which the unit can perform its required functions.

2. [For material], All action taken to retain material in a serviceable condition or to restore it to serviceability. It includes inspection, testing, servicing, classification as to serviceability, repair, rebuilding , and reclamation.

3. [For material], All supply and repair action taken to keep a force in condition to carry out its mission.

4. [For material], The routine recurring work required to keep a facility (plant, building, structure, ground facility, utility system, or other real property) in such condition that it may be continuously used, at its original or designed capacity and efficiency for its intended purpose.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188 and from the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

See also: restoration end user retro-engineering