Asset Performance Management (APM) is a market of software tools and applications for optimizing operational assets (such as plants, equipment and infrastructure) essential to the operation of an enterprise. Organizations invest in APM tools and technologies to reduce unplanned repair work, increase asset availability, minimize maintenance costs and reduce the risk of failure for critical assets. These products can also improve an organization's ability to comply with regulations that prescribe how assets are inspected and maintained. APM uses data capture, integration, visualization and analytics to improve operations and maintenance timing, and to identify which maintenance and inspection activities to perform on mission-critical assets.