Downtime: meaning and examples
Downtime is the time a vehicle or machine is out of use because it is broken or being repaired or serviced. Planned downtime is booked in advance, unplanned downtime is not.
How it works
Downtime is any period when a vehicle or machine cannot do its job. It might be a breakdown, a repair waiting for parts, or a service booked in advance.
Unplanned downtime is the costly kind. A delivery is late, a harvest day is lost, a hire machine earns nothing. Planned downtime is the same lost time, but you choose when it happens.
The usual way to cut unplanned downtime is to keep up with the maker's schedule, check vehicles regularly and fix small faults before they grow.
Planned or not
Illustration: a 100-hour service done on a quiet Friday takes the machine out for one afternoon. The same machine failing mid-job could lose a week while parts arrive.
How to track it in Loggy
Spot small problems early by logging faults as you find them, and book services ahead with a To Do and a date reminder. The aim is for the work to happen at a time you chose.
- Log faults as you find them.
- Add a To Do for planned services with a date.
- Set a date reminder so the service happens before the interval is passed.
Loggy is a free maintenance logbook app for iOS and Android. The free plan has unlimited vehicles, reminders, PDF export and vehicle transfer, and no ads.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as downtime?
Any time the vehicle or machine is unavailable, planned or unplanned.
Can Loggy stop breakdowns?
No, but keeping on top of services and faults makes surprises less likely.
Is planned downtime a problem?
Not usually. It is a chosen cost to avoid larger, unplanned ones.