Current Issues in the Flexibilization of Smart Product-Service Systems and their Impacts in Industry 4.0

Abstract

In Industry 4.0, trends on Servitisation are intertwined with increased use of “smart technologies”, bringing light to Smart Product-Service Systems. Currently, Smart-PSSs need to cope with dynamic customer’s needs, which generates system requirements in a higher frequency, resulting in reconfiguration of such system. This research aims to study current issues regarding the reconfiguration of Smart-PSSs, focusing on flexibilization. An exploration of issues is done by a qualitative literature review, with results structured in a schema. This schema approaches issues which are not yet solved or addressed in literature, showing that systemic solutions are necessary to solve explored issues. A discussion of current limitations and trends in research is presented, bridging studied material and pointing out current Industry 4.0 technologies that might cope with the issues if approached systemically. The paper points to further research regarding a expansions on the literature review and next steps on solving current issues.