A Distributed Product-Service System for Mask Provision during COVID-19: an Action Design Research Study in Brazil

Aguinaldo Dos Santos,Gabriela Garcez Duarte,Emanuela Lima Silveira

doi:10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.12

Aguinaldo Dos Santos, Gabriela Garcez Duarte + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.12

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Abstract

The provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 demanded initiatives beyond the sole provision of physical artifacts, urging the development of new services and system innovations in order to produce effective solutions. On this paper the authors report one of such initiatives, where a streetwear brand (ÖUS) and Paraná Federal University have joined efforts to develop a sustainable Product-Service System for mask provision, aiming at the protection of vulnerable school children in the surrounding area of a shoe manufacturing plant in the state of Ceará, one of the epicenters of the pandemic in the country. This consisted of an Action Design Research where, due to the pandemic context, all participants were in social isolation and, therefore, the Design process was carried out remotely. On the article the authors explore in depth the induction of a more distributed economy paradigm on the PSS Design. A distributed approach present itself more aligned with the health requirements during pandemic, with a higher potential to contain locally the flow of people. Furthermore, it also addresses the need for generating income locally, thus merging the health and economic concerns of the pandemic.

Highlights

Since its first confirmed case on 26th February 2020, Brazil has become (June 2020) the epicenter of the SARS-Cov-2 infection that causes COVID-19 in Latin America (Candido et al, 2020)
There was no vaccine for COVID-19 and, prevention measures were the main strategy to deal with this virus, including (1) covering coughs and sneezes with tissues; (2) washings hands regularly with soap or disinfection with hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol; (3) avoiding contact with infected people; (4) maintaining an appropriate distance from people; and (5) to refrain from touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands (6) use of face masks (CDC, 2020; Gennaro et al, 2020)
The study has shown that the Design of a Distributed Product-Service System for mask provision for children school was able to address the divide between health and economic concerns that appear during COVID-19

Summary

Introduction

Since its first confirmed case on 26th February 2020, Brazil has become (June 2020) the epicenter of the SARS-Cov-2 infection that causes COVID-19 in Latin America (Candido et al, 2020). Regional and nationwide efforts to tackle the pandemic have shown that the industry was not prepared to rapidly supply the large demand of PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) required by the health sector. The Brazilian Medical Association registered 7,897 complaints of health workers about the lack of PPE, from March to April 2020 (BMA, 2020). In order to contribute to the provision of PPEs, for the health workers but to the population in general, companies from different sectors have voluntarily repurposed their capabilities. Other institutions have gathered to support these initiatives, such as city councils, professional associations, NGOs, and universities.

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