Product-service Systems Characterization Based on Life Cycle: Application in a Real Situation

Abstract

Given the offer of products, which are losing their competitive value, companies begin to seek solutions to improve their market position through the inclusion of services. The development of product-service systems (PSS) is a solution that has been discussed by the academia in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of publications. The literature not only shows a growing interest in PSS but also points out some research gaps such as the lack of characterization of a PSS and the difficulty of identifying a PSS. In this sense, this paper proposes an application of a framework that characterizes a PSS in a real situation. The aim is to check if the real situation presents the characteristics of a PSS highlighted by the framework. The framework presents conceptual elements throughout the life cycle of a PSS: Requirements definition of a PSS; Development of a PSS; Implementation of a PSS; Monitoring a PSS; and Post-use disposal of a PSS. These elements are intended to identify the characteristics of PSS for each stage of the cycle. The real situation identified in the existing literature on PSS presents basic characteristics of a PSS, it contains its four main factors: product, service, actors network and infrastructure and presents the similarity of the three types of PSS (product-oriented, use-oriented and results-oriented). Thus, the framework is applied in the practical case to identify characteristics of PSS. This application is carried from a questionnaire based on conceptual elements arranged in stages of the life cycle of the PSS. The responses were analyzed highlighting main conceptual elements characteristics. With the information obtained from the questionnaire, the results demonstrate the company's current situation and the PSS characteristics that could be implemented.