Maintenance backlog is a critical metric in the maintenance industry. It measures the amount of maintenance work that is yet to be completed. Simply put, it’s the total number of hours or tasks waiting to be done. "What gets measured, gets managed," and maintenance backlog is a key measure of how well a facility is managing its resources.

“What gets measured, gets managed”

Formula: Maintenance Backlog = (Total Hours of Outstanding Work) / (Available Maintenance Hours per Week)

Explanation:

• Total Hours of Outstanding Work: This is the sum of all the hours needed to complete pending maintenance tasks. For example, if there are 200 hours of work pending, that's your total outstanding hours.

• Available Maintenance Hours per Week: This is the number of hours your team can work in a week. If you have a team that works 40 hours a week, then this is your available maintenance hours.

  
  

  
  

  For instance, if you have 200 hours of work pending and 40 available hours per week, your maintenance backlog is 5 weeks.

  
  
  

  Importance: A high backlog indicates that your team is overloaded. This can lead to critical delays. On the other hand, a very low backlog might suggest underutilization of resources. "Balance is the key to efficient maintenance." Keeping the backlog within a reasonable range ensures that work is completed on time without overburdening the team.