Final answer:
Operations must regularly maintain their facilities and equipment to ensure continuous, efficient function and prevent costly downtime, while also ensuring a safe and healthy environment for workers and society at large.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main reason that operations must regularly maintain their facilities and equipment is to ensure continuity and efficiency in their functions. Regular maintenance can prevent the breakdown of machinery, which could lead to costly downtime and negatively impact production and services.
For instance, in the case of a retail store, a comprehensive cleaning of the air conditioning system after an infection outbreak and the initiation of a regular maintenance program are essential to prevent the growth of biofilms within the cooling tower, ensuring a safe environment for both employees and customers.
Maintenance is also a strategy to mitigate risks; without adequate advanced preparation, the disruption caused by losing a critical resource can significantly damage a company's capabilities. Moreover, maintaining infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and port facilities is vital for industries to transport goods efficiently.
In marine environments, maintaining underwater structures is crucial to avoid complications with the operation of moving parts and to minimize the environmental impact on marine life. All these examples highlight how crucial maintenance is to an operation’s sustainability and success.
In the broader context, governments and companies must also consider the welfare of society and the workforce. Providing a healthful working environment, as countries with government-run healthcare systems attract manufacturers because the workers are generally healthier, indicates the broader implications of a well-maintained working environment on societal welfare, including employment, health, and infrastructure.