Characteristics Of Product-service Systems Research Articles

Identification of the causal relationship between features and barriers of product–service systems based on Bayesian network model

Product-service systems (PSS) potentially offer a promising avenue for balancing resource efficiency improvement and economic growth to achieve sustainability. To successfully implement and operate PSS, early identification and mitigation of implementation barriers are required for enhanced social acceptability. To this end, determining the interrelationship between designing PSS features and potential barriers is crucial. Existing research focused on the PSS attributes and its barriers in isolation, falling short of a holistic understanding of their causal relationships. This paper aims to fill this gap by amalgamating case study data from literature survey and subsequently constructing a Bayesian network model. By establishing a graphical model and probability table, this study identified the stochastic dependencies between PSS features and barriers. This approach not only captures their relationship but also assists in predicting potential barriers based on PSS characteristics during the design phase. The results of this study are expected to furnish PSS designers with a tool for anticipating and addressing implementation barriers, thereby facilitating the successful implementation of PSS.

A method for identifying the relationship between PSS features and barriers based on Bayesian networks

Product-service systems (PSS) are gaining traction as a means of achieving sustainability. To successfully implement PSS, it is necessary to estimate the barriers that may arise in the implementation of the PSS at the design stage, and to take measures to increase social acceptability in advance. On the other hand, to realize this, it is essential to understand the relationship between the characteristics of PSS and the barriers that may arise in its implementation. However, existing research only investigates PSS features and barriers individually, and the relationship between them has not been fully understood. This paper thus aims to grasp the relationship between PSS features and barriers by collecting case study data through a literature survey and constructing a Bayesian network based on the data. As a result, the relationship between PSS features and barriers was represented as a graphical model and a probability table. The result is expected to assist PSS designers in estimating the expected barriers based on PSS features during the design phase, thereby contributing to successful PSS implementation.

Towards a modelaing framework of collaboration in PSS development project: A review of key factors

Abstract Inter-enterprise collaboration is one of key important issues that affect the successful of a PSS (Product-Service System) project. This paper sets the bases of a global model that help characterizing and assessing collaboration processes along the PSS lifecycle. Based on a critical literature review of main papers dealing with collaboration issues, a list of ten key factors has been identified. Social capital theory is used to clarify the definitions and impacts of some of these factors. A UML class diagram of PSS collaboration processes is then proposed to connect these factors with other characteristics of PSS.

Product-service systems towards eco-effective production patterns: A Lean-Green design approach from a literature review

Increased competition, new consumption paradigms, and concern for the environment are motivating organisations to include services in their offerings, and orient their strategies to develop Product-Service Systems (PSS) that will bring value to consumers. However, to design new eco-efficient PSS, additional knowledge needs to be considered to streamline the design and to make it more effective. Lean-Green approaches embrace value and efficiency in PSS solutions, correlated to the sustainable characteristics of PSS. This paper aims to identify lean and green strategies to design eco-efficient PSS from a literature review. Using content analysis, Lean-Green strategies to add value in PSS design were grouped according to their eco-efficient potential. A graphical representation was proposed to synthesise the research findings. PSS allow multiple life cycles and enable strategies that consider the value flow, design for efficiency, improve longevity, and later capture value by reuse, remanufacture, and disassemble. The proposed structure shows how enterprises can begin the PSS design, systematically using Lean-Green strategies to add value by means of offering an eco-effective solution, taking advantage of sustainable production patterns that will thus enable sustainable consumption.

Product/Service-System Origins and Trajectories: A Systematic Literature Review of PSS Definitions and their Characteristics

Literature provides multiple definitions on Product/Service-Systems (PSS), and as the field develops, certain trajectories emerge. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the stabilization of PSS definitions within PSS research, by presenting the most prominent PSS definitions and their interrelationships. As the result of a strict protocol, the paper identifies 52 prominent definitions related to PSS, where the citation relations between the prominent definitions arestudied and graphically illustrated. The definitions are furthermore analyzed to identify common PSS definition characteristics and eleven different characteristics identified. Descriptive analysis is carried out on the identified PSS definition characteristics, to determine commonalties and differences in the field. Even though the literature provides many different variations of PSS definitions, there is certain convergence regarding key characteristics of PSS, including Product and Services as well as Customer Needs.

Challenges when evaluating Product/Service-Systems through Life Cycle Assessment

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a state-of-the-art method for conducting environmental assessments of systems, whether these consist of goods or services, or a combination of the two. However, current LCA guidelines focus on assessing tangible products and lack specific attention to more complex systems, such as Product/Service-Systems (PSS), which also consist of intangible elements. PSS imply a shift in business paradigm from selling specific products to delivering a function, through a mix of products and services, thereby incentivising resource efficiency as well as user satisfaction. Despite their potential to reduce environmental impacts, PSS are not by default more environmentally benign compared to conventional systems, and quantifications of their environmental performance are called for. This paper contributes by showing that specific challenges need to be addressed when using LCA to evaluate the environmental performance of PSS. We identify a set of PSS characteristics that can challenge an LCA study. Three relevant scopes are distinguished, where LCA may be applied: (1) evaluating options within the PSS itself; (2) comparing a PSS with an alternative; and (3) modelling the actual contextual changes caused by the PSS. We derive three pronounced challenges when conducting LCA within the three scopes: (i) identifying and defining the reference system; (ii) defining the functional unit; and (iii) setting system boundaries. We elaborate on how these challenges are discussed in current literature. Recommended future work includes developing adapted guidelines and further empirical case studies that quantify the environmental changes and impacts caused by introducing PSS.

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

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.

PSS Characterisation of Telecom Offerings

The global telecommunication network provides a powerful infrastructure supporting a multitude of offerings. As early as the 1980's the telecom industry had moved to services using telecom products that could be provided within the offers (a gateway included in the offer) or by the customers themselves (a computer to access the web). However, although modern telecommunication systems are often considered as good support for Product Service Systems (PSS), telecom carriers hardly refer to PSS when establishing their own offers. Indeed it is not always easy to understand how modern telecom services, using personal mobile phones and other objects, really fit with PSS philosophy. This paper evaluates telecom offerings from a PSS standpoint. Current telecom offerings are compared with PSS characteristics found in literature. The results clarify the potentials of current telecom offerings in the PSS paradigm.

Guidelines for the Definition of Innovative Industrial Product-service Systems (PSS) Business Models for Remanufacturing

Remanufacturing represents a well-suited approach for sustainable development in environmental, economic and social dimensions. Product-service systems (PSS) are among the most important enabler for remanufacturing. Companies that remain owner of a product have an intrinsic motivation to design goods for longer lifecycles considering the possibility of remanufacturing the product or its parts after each use phase. In addition, as the end customer only uses the goods without having its ownership, the acceptance – and consequently the demand – for remanufactured goods is significantly improved. This paper presents guidelines for the definition of innovative business models for remanufacturing, utilizing both remanufacturing and PSS characteristics, and permitting the dissemination of knowledge needed for successful implementation within a company strategy and operations model. Focusing on industrial PSS, an illustrative application of the guidelines is demonstrated.

Employing the business model concept to support the adoption of product–service systems (PSS)

Although the existing literature indicates that the business model concept can be useful to implement product–service systems (PSS), there is still a paucity of guidelines to assist companies in this respect. Therefore, this paper proposes a framework to support the adoption of PSS employing the business model concept. This framework was developed based on literature review and intends to guide the company on the analysis of their business context, on the choice of the appropriate type of PSS and on the definition of their PSS characteristics. A single case study was then performed to illustrate an application of the framework in a machine tool manufacturer and provide research insights. Overall, results indicate that the framework can provide companies with a useful reference to PSS implementation, helping on the investigation of different PSS scenarios as well as the main barriers and challenges to be overcome.

Dynamic and multidimensional measurement of product-service system (PSS) sustainability: a triple bottom line (TBL)-based system dynamics approach

Abstract Despite the noteworthy changes towards product-service system (PSS) as a sustainable solution, a systematic methodology to measure sustainability is surprisingly sparse. Previous literature in measuring sustainability still remains no more than static and fragmentary, which cannot fully incorporate the characteristics of PSS: a ‘dynamic’ system which includes various actors and a large, complex system with ‘multidimensional’ impacts. To support the dynamic and multidimensional characteristics of PSS, we employ system dynamics (SD) to cover the dynamics, and triple bottom line (TBL) to encompass the multidimensionality of PSS sustainability, respectively. To illustrate the working of proposed approach, the case study of a public bicycle system is presented. The proposed approach is expected to effectively measure PSS sustainability through a comprehensive view.

K12200 高付加価値剔出のためのシステム設計 : サービス工学とProduct-Service System

Nowadays, manufacturers are starting to recognize that services provided through a product are more crucial than the product itself. As a result, "Product-Service Systems (PSSs)", which create value by highly integrating a tangible product and a service, have been attracting social attention widely. With this background, the purpose of this paper is identifying value provision opportunities for manufacturing industries with "service-oriented business." Firstly, the author discusses the meaning of PSSs in order to extract characteristics of this new business stream. Subsequently, a conceptual framework is introduced in consideration of the PSS characteristics. To realize the PSSs, it is indispensable to design the 'system' with 3 viewpoints: 'Synergy', 'Strategy', and 'Structure.' These 3 design viewpoints are, then, closely explained by introducing specific design techniques; and PSSs design methodologies are identified.

Requirements Engineering for Product Service Systems

In recent years, manufacturing companies and service providers have moved towards offering customer-specific problem solutions. These integrated bundles usually consist of hardware, software, and service components and are called product service systems (PSS) or hybrid products. Since the success of the resulting solution depends on the understanding of all requirements, requirements engineering (RE) has become a key factor. The article analyzes the state of the art of RE for PSS based on an extensive literature review in the domains of product-, software-, and service engineering. For this, criteria are derived from the characteristics of PSS and from the task area of RE in the life cycle of PSS. Based on these criteria we analyze the most established RE approaches for their suitability for PSS. An important finding is that integrated/interdisciplinary approaches for RE are missing. Moreover, the maturity of RE approaches in the three domains varies significantly. All analyzed approaches heavily rely on concepts and solution characteristics of their own domain so that a transfer to other domains is hardly possible. This literature review lays the foundation for successful RE for PSS and especially for future research aiming at combining and integrating RE approaches and models of product-, software-, and service engineering. Such requirement models could connect concepts of single domains and enable an integrated and seamless RE for PSS.