Here is the honest answer. There is no single good number, and anyone who hands you one without asking questions is guessing. A defensible target depends on three things, in this order: how you define on time, what industry you are in, and what class of asset you are talking about. The 95 percent everyone quotes is a regulated, safety-critical figure, and for a lot of your assets it is the wrong target in both directions.
Before any benchmark, define on time
A compliance percentage means nothing until you know what counts as on time. Completed by the due date is a very different bar than completed within ten percent of the interval, which is different again from completed in the same calendar month. The same work produces very different numbers depending on which one you use. So before you compare yourself to any benchmark, including the ones below, write down your window and hold it. If you and the plant down the road define on time differently, your numbers are not comparable, no matter how close they look.
Start with maturity
The most honest first cut is not your industry, it is how mature your program is. Here is what I typically see, expressed as on-time compliance. These are working references to frame the conversation, not research claims.
If you are sitting at 70, the useful question is not "why am I not at 95." It is "what does it take to get to 80 and hold it." Chasing a world-class number from a developing program is how you end up gaming the window instead of improving the work.
Then adjust for your industry
Industry matters because regulation matters. In aviation and nuclear, on-time completion of safety-related PMs is not a goal, it is a license condition, and the tolerance on those specific PMs is often zero. Oil and gas sits high for the same process-safety reasons. Transportation and utilities show wider ranges because they run a mix of regulated and non-regulated assets under one roof.
If you run a non-regulated operation, do not borrow the 95 percent figure just because it sounds impressive. It is the right target for a transmission line protective relay. It is not the right target for a parking lot light.
Then break it down by asset class
This is the step most people skip, and it is the one that makes the target actually useful. Not every asset class carries the same risk, so not every asset class should carry the same target. Setting one plant-wide number forces a bad trade. Either you set it high and waste labor over-maintaining assets that do not need it, or you set it moderate and quietly under-protect the assets that will hurt you when they fail.
Why 100 percent is the wrong goal
It is tempting to just mandate 100 percent and call it leadership. Resist it. A 100 percent target on everything tells your crews that every PM is equally important, which is the same as telling them none of them are. It also pushes people to game the window or close work that did not happen, because the alternative is missing a number they were told is non-negotiable. The goal is not a perfect score. The goal is the right work done on time on the assets that matter, and an honest number you can act on.
So what target should you set
Start with the maturity ladder and find where you actually are. Set your next target one step up, not at world-class. Adjust it up for your regulated and safety-critical work and down for your low-consequence assets. And standardize your window before you compare yourself to anyone.
If you want the ranges in a form you can hand to your team, the PM Compliance Industry Benchmark is a free download, and the PM Compliance Calculator will help you run the numbers against your own data.
This article covers how to set a defensible target. The Maximo KPI Guide to PM Compliance walks through the full implementation from compliance window definition through KPI Manager SQL, segmentation methodology, the drilldown from aggregate to root cause, and the business case to justify a compliance program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good PM compliance percentage?
It depends on three things: how you define on time, your industry, and your asset criticality. Reactive programs typically run under 60 percent, developing programs 60 to 80, proactive programs 80 to 90, and world-class programs 90 and up. The right approach is to set your target one maturity step above where you actually are, not at world-class.
What is world-class PM compliance?
World-class PM compliance is generally 90 percent and above, with regulated and safety-critical industries targeting 95 percent or higher. Aviation and nuclear operations often target 98 to 100 percent on safety-related PMs because on-time completion is a license condition, not a performance goal.
Should every asset have the same PM compliance target?
No. Setting one plant-wide target forces a bad trade. Safety and regulatory critical assets should be at or near 100 percent. Production critical assets should target 95 percent and up. Balance of plant can sit at 85 to 90 percent. Assets you have deliberately chosen to run to failure do not need a compliance target at all.
Is 100 percent PM compliance realistic?
As a blanket target on everything, no. A 100 percent target on all assets tells crews that every PM is equally important, which pushes people to game the window or close work that did not happen. The goal is the right work done on time on the assets that matter, not a perfect score across the board.
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