A function-oriented optimising approach for smart product service systems at the conceptual design stage: A perspective from the digital twin framework

Abstract

The smart product service system (PSS), as an emerging business paradigm for value proportions, has attracted increasing interests from multidisciplinary backgrounds; this state of affairs has been triggered by advances in information technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), smart connected products (SCPs), and many others. In order to achieve a successful Smart PSS, the optimising approach plays a significant role in the development of Smart PSS, particularly at the conceptual design stage, by increasing the practical value of such systems and sharpening their marketing competitiveness. However, few studies have addressed the optimisation of Smart PSS, as it is a newly coined term with high degrees of uncertainty and complexity. The key to successful Smart PSS development is improving its systematic ideality to sharpen its competitiveness in the market. To fill the research gap, this paper proposes a function-oriented Smart PSS optimising approach based on the framework of digital twins (DT), with the aim of improving Smart PSS solutions at the conceptual design stage. To achieve this, a hybrid modelling approach for Smart PSS is first proposed by integrating the function modelling approach derived from the theory of inventive problem solving and the five-dimensional DT framework, which is applied to analyse the coupling and correlations among elements in both the physical and digital spaces. Subsequently, a triangular fuzzy number (TFN)-based calculation algorithm was applied to evaluate and rank the functional values of all components constituting the targeted Smart PSS with reference to their functional importance and functional roles. Based on the results of this functional value ranking, an optimising method is proposed to refine the Smart PSS concept by increasing the overall systematic ideality through the implementation of trimming, a systematic innovative tool that emphasises ‘reduction’ in solving engineering design problems. Finally, an intelligent cleaning robot Smart PSS is used as an illustrative case to address the feasibility of the proposed method.