équipements

Équipements is a plural French term that translates to equipment in English. It refers to the tools, devices, and systems used to perform tasks, support operations, or enable services. The scope ranges from industrial machinery and consumer appliances to medical devices, information technology hardware, and the fixtures and consumables that accompany them. In business contexts, éq u ipements denotes capital assets intended for ongoing use rather than disposable items. In everyday usage, the term can also cover infrastructure and installed systems that enable functions in a facility or organization.

Classification of equipment can be by function (production, measurement, safety, transportation), by sector (industrial equipment, medical equipment, IT equipment, agricultural equipment, sports equipment), or by mobility (portable versus stationary). It can also be categorized by lifecycle stage, such as new, in operation, under maintenance, or retired.

Lifecycle and management emphasize procurement, installation, commissioning, routine maintenance and inspection, calibration, upgrades, and decommissioning. Proper management aims to maximize reliability, safety, and energy efficiency while controlling total cost of ownership. Compliance with standards and regulatory requirements is common in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and construction, with references to international norms (ISO, IEC) and region-specific regulations.

Impact and applications of éq u ipements are significant for productivity, quality, and worker safety. Organizations typically maintain inventories, schedule preventive maintenance, and plan for replacements to minimize downtime. Asset-management considerations include performance data, depreciation, risk assessment, and asset lifecycle planning.

See also: equipment maintenance, asset management, procurement of equipment.