1. A maintenance operation instance collection apparatus which manages a maintenance instance of a device, comprising: a storage unit that includes a maintenance operation instance database in which operation information obtained from the device via a sensor and maintenance information on a measure to deal with the operation information corresponding thereto are stored in association with each other; and a control unit that receives an input of new operation information, receives an input of new maintenance information, searches the maintenance operation instance database using the newly-received maintenance information as a search key and acquires searched operation information, compares the newly-received operation information to the acquired operation information, and determines whether or not the newly-received operation information is close to the acquired operation information in such a degree of satisfying a prescribed criterion, and, if the newly-received operation information is not determined to be close to the acquired operation information, prompts a re-input of the newly-received maintenance information.