What is the difference between leading and lagging maintenance KPIs?
Lagging maintenance KPIs measure outcomes after they happen, such as unplanned downtime and reactive percentage. Leading KPIs measure the behaviours that drive those outcomes, such as schedule compliance, PM compliance, and planned work percentage. A balanced scorecard uses leading KPIs to change results before they show up in the lagging ones.
Most plants report lagging KPIs, which tell you the result after it is too late to change it. Leading KPIs measure the disciplines that produce those results, so they give you a chance to intervene. Managing the leading indicators is how you bend the lagging ones.
| Dimension | Leading KPIs | Lagging KPIs |
|---|---|---|
| What they measure | Behaviours that drive results | Outcomes after they occur |
| Examples | Schedule compliance, PM compliance, planned work % | Unplanned downtime, reactive %, OEE |
| Use | Steer the operation in time to act | Confirm whether the strategy worked |
| Risk if used alone | Activity without outcome | Knowing too late to change it |
Track both, but manage the leading KPIs daily, because they are the levers you can still move. The lagging KPIs are the scoreboard, not the steering wheel.
Frequently asked questions
Which maintenance KPI should we manage day to day?
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