This paper provides an overview of the applications of maintenance optimization models, analyzing their role in maintenance management and discussing factors that may have hindered their adoption. The author reviews the literature, discusses the value of these models for maintenance management, and explores future prospects. The paper highlights the importance of maintenance in various industries, such as oil and chemical, railways, and airlines, and the challenges in applying maintenance optimization models, including data collection, decision support systems, and the gap between theory and practice. Despite these challenges, the paper concludes that there is scope for maintenance optimization due to technological advancements and economic pressures, and expects that decision support systems incorporating maintenance optimization models will become more prevalent in the near future.This paper provides an overview of the applications of maintenance optimization models, analyzing their role in maintenance management and discussing factors that may have hindered their adoption. The author reviews the literature, discusses the value of these models for maintenance management, and explores future prospects. The paper highlights the importance of maintenance in various industries, such as oil and chemical, railways, and airlines, and the challenges in applying maintenance optimization models, including data collection, decision support systems, and the gap between theory and practice. Despite these challenges, the paper concludes that there is scope for maintenance optimization due to technological advancements and economic pressures, and expects that decision support systems incorporating maintenance optimization models will become more prevalent in the near future.