Search Results (107)

Product–Service Systems (PSS) require feedback loops that connect stakeholder experience with design decisions, but distributed feedback is often difficult to transform into actionable design knowledge. This paper synthesises previously distributed results from the DIVERSITY project into an integrated decision-support framework for feedback-driven PSS design. The framework combines social-sentiment representation, reach/influence weighting, opinion modelling, monitoring, extraction and prediction modules, and a hierarchical similarity mechanism for exploring likely sentiment toward new PSS configurations. It was implemented in the DIVERSITY engineering environment and assessed through a preliminary polarity plausibility check, controlled testing with synthetic data generated by OpinionSim, and three industrial business cases. The results indicate that the framework can support segmentation-aware interpretation of stakeholder feedback, shorten the path from market signals to design action, and provide exploratory evidence for early PSS concept generation and redesign. The predictive component is presented as an exploratory design-support mechanism, with forecasting accuracy remaining a topic for future empirical validation. The paper contributes an integrated feedback-to-design framework for PSS and clarifies the conditions under which sentiment-based indicators are most useful in B2C and B2B settings. Full article

This study examines the role of circular services in generating economic value within the construction sector, focusing on firms belonging to the Sustainable Habitat Cluster in the Aburrá Valley, Colombia. The research analyzes how circular business model strengthening translates into economic outcomes through the implementation of circular service portfolios. Using a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach, the study evaluates the relationships between circular business model capabilities, circular service implementation, and circular revenue generation. The results confirm a sequential mechanism linking strategic capabilities to economic outcomes, where strengthening circular business models significantly enhances the implementation of circular services, which in turn strongly predicts the generation of circular revenues. The findings indicate that circular strategic orientation is a necessary but insufficient condition for economic value creation, as monetization occurs only when circular principles are translated into concrete service offerings. The study highlights the central role of circular services as the operational bridge between strategic readiness and economic performance, contributing to the literature on circular business models and Product–Service Systems (PSS) by providing empirical evidence of how circular strategies translate into revenue generation within the built-environment sector. Full article

To design Product–Service System (PSS) schemes that meet individual customer requirements, the configuration of technology systems is commonly used to select and assemble preferable modules from a predefined product and service library under certain constraints. Service delivery and realization have a significant impact on customer satisfaction in PSSs. However, existing research seldom considers the interactions between PSS configuration and service delivery. This paper focuses on two key stakeholders in PSS configuration: the product manufacturer (PSS provider) and the service providers. A bi-level optimization model based on Stackelberg game theory is proposed to configure the optimal PSS solution. Firstly, the upper-level optimization problem represents the PSS configuration as a leader to maximize customer satisfaction. Secondly, the lower-level optimization problem represents service configuration as a follower to minimize the service supply cost. Thirdly, an improved Dual-Population Co-evolutionary Hybrid Algorithm (DPC-NMHA), combining NSGA-II and MOPSO, is proposed to solve the bi-level optimization model. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are demonstrated through a case study of a refrigerator PSS configuration. Full article

The adoption of Product-Service Systems (PSSs) is an important strategy for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), although they face challenges connected to the scarcity of financial, human, and technological resources. Thus, this article seeks to propose a framework that integrates the barriers, drivers, innovation process, and business model elements associated with the adoption of PSSs in Brazilian industrial SMEs to offer guidelines for improvements to the strategies and practices adopted by such enterprises. The research adopted the Fuzzy Delphi method, applied to a panel of ten executives and managers of Brazilian industrial SMEs. This approach was employed to consensually validate a set of variables obtained from recent scientific literature. The results indicate that the adoption of PSSs by Brazilian industrial SMEs is influenced by structural, cultural, and technological barriers, yet driven by factors such as sustainability, customer relations, and competitiveness. Despite the acknowledgement of the importance of innovation, the processes remain little structured, with value proposition, the human factor, and stakeholder relations standing out as central elements in the business models. Through this study proposes specific strategic guidelines for four critical categories: provider enterprise, consumers, PSSs, and environmental aspects. Such guidelines can support managers in formulating practical actions for adopting PSSs, in addition to being replicable by other SMEs with similar characteristics. This research contributes to the literature originally by expanding the knowledge about the reality of PSS adoption by SMEs in emerging economies, thereby bridging a literature gap that still addresses their specificities generically. Full article

Smart Mobile Devices (SMD)—including hardware devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables; the software systems that animate them; and the data-communication infrastructure that connects them—pose increasing sustainability challenges due to their short lifespans, high resource demands, and growing e-waste. While Sustainable Product–Service Systems (S.PSS) have been applied in various sectors to support environmental goals, limited research has addressed their application in the context of SMD. This study aims to explore how S.PSS can be tailored to support sustainability in the SMD sector. For that, it combines a literature review with a multiple-case analysis of seventeen commercial offerings to develop a conceptual framework refined through six expert interviews. Cases were coded using the classical PSS typology and other sector-specific criteria and subsequently clustered in a polarity diagram to identify designable patterns, underpinning the conceptual framework. The study contributes an S.PSS-SMD framework comprising a sector-tailored classification and sixteen archetypal models, operationalized in an archetypal map with potential opportunities. Theoretically, the study offers a sector-grounded operationalization that extends S.PSS design theory to digital product–service ecosystems. It provides a strategic decision aid for designing business models, service bundles, stakeholder roles, and lifecycle responsibilities to pursue win–win environmental and economic sustainability. Full article

This study proposes a design method for the evaluation and redesign of product–service systems (PSSs) from the perspective of social sustainability, one that applies Max-Neef’s framework of fundamental human needs. The proposed method systematically connects PSS functions and requirements—identified through service blueprints and value graphs—to “satisfiers” and “barriers” extracted via needs-based workshops. This connection enables the identification of functions that either contribute to or hinder the fulfillment of fundamental human needs and guide the generation of redesign proposals aimed at sufficiency-oriented outcomes. A case study involving a smart-cart system in Osaka, Japan, was conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the method. Through an online workshop, satisfiers and barriers related to both physical and online shopping experiences were identified. The analysis revealed that existing functions such as promotional information and automated checkout processes negatively impacted needs such as understanding and affection due to information overload and reduced human interaction. In response, redesign concepts were developed, including filtering options for information, product background storytelling, and optional slower checkout lanes with human assistants. The redesigned functions contribute to the fulfillment of fundamental human needs, indicating that the proposed method can enhance social sustainability in PSS design. This study offers a novel framework that extends beyond traditional customer requirement-based approaches by explicitly incorporating human needs into function-level redesign. Full article

The increasing integration of sustainable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, into the national electricity grid presents significant challenges in terms of frequency control and grid stability. Additionally, the imbalance between electricity supply and demand introduces dynamic frequency variations. However, according to the literature, the impact of high penetration of renewable energy sources on the Tunisian grid has not been extensively analyzed using power system simulator for engineering (PSS/E). This research paper explores how the primary reserve technique participates to maintain frequency within acceptable ranges in the Tunisian electrical grid. Individual generators contribute to the total power output, thereby influencing frequency deviation. The primary frequency control action by each generator is proportional to its frequency deviation and inversely proportional to its governing drop, which measures the generator’s sensitivity to frequency changes. This paper analyzes frequency stability in the Tunisian grid under scenarios with and without different rates of sustainable energy source penetration, which barely reached 3.5% in 2023. In Tunisia, the use of sustainable energy is essential not only for ensuring grid stability but for combating climate change and reducing carbon emissions, aligning with the country’s environmental goals. The transition to sustainable energy significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the power sector, offering a sustainable solution for mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. Dynamic simulations were conducted for the isolated Tunisian system, separate from the interconnected grid, focusing on the critical scenario of the loss of a large electricity production unit. This study also examined the absence of sustainable energy integration and the effects of integration of different rates of renewable energy to evaluate the impact of reserves on the continuity of the Tunisian electrical service. Simulation results, which considered a 2023 grid model, show that with an integration trial of 20% renewable energy and, in the worst-case scenario, which represents the loss of the largest production group in the grid, the primary reserve of a given group—defined by the quantity of active energy—can be rapidly deployed to restore the balance between electricity supply and demand. Thus, reserves are a crucial solution for maintaining frequency within reasonable limits and ensuring the continuity of electrical services in Tunisia with varying rates from 10% to 20% integration of different sustainable energy sources. Full article

Product Service Systems (PSS) integrate technical systems, digital infrastructure, and digital and physical services to deliver value to customers in a comprehensive way throughout the life cycle of the PSS. While the potential benefits of PSSs, such as economic efficiency and sustainability, are well-recognized, their implementation and evaluation are often hindered by significant complexities and uncertainties, particularly in the early concept phase. This paper introduces a graph-based reasoning approach that enables the evaluation of PSS concepts despite vague and uncertain understanding. By defining key characteristics in the value creation process qualitatively in distinct and probabilistic states, the graph model makes the concept executable and allows for transparent evaluation. The approach actively considers knowledge gaps and variations in the PSS concept, offering insight into how uncertainties and alternative configurations impact system performance. A case study of a PSS for metal powder recycling in additive manufacturing is conducted to validate the method, demonstrating its applicability for PSS concept evaluation. Full article

Growing competition, changing customer needs, and growing environmental protection requirements mean companies are forced to change their approach to business. Traditional product sales are being replaced by systemic solutions focused on meeting specific customer requirements while reducing negative impacts on the environment. One such solution is the Product-Service System (PSS). This allows manufacturers to offer their products’ functionalities and features through related services. By extending the life of products, promoting the reuse of materials, and reducing the amount of waste, the implementation of PSS strongly supports sustainable development. The paper focuses on a new product group—garage boxes (GB). It discusses a new PSS business model that responds to the needs of people living in blocks of flats with no tenant storage lockers or rooms in the basement. The new business model sells the function (storing various possessions) and eliminates problems faced by tenants due to the lack of sufficient storage space. It provides customers with high-quality GB for as long as they need them. Customers can pick and choose equipment with additional services depending on their needs. The idea of the model is the outcome of a nationwide study carried out in Poland on a group of 500 residents of blocks of flats and consultations with manufacturers, homeowner associations, wholesale and retail traders, and the financial sector. The study provided us with information and data that provided a comprehensive picture of the problem of the absence of storage lockers or rooms for residents and the needs connected with GB. The results of the conducted research indicate that the developed business model responds to the diverse requirements of residents and supports sustainable solutions. It is an alternative to the lack of a storage unit assigned to each apartment. The business model developed in the paper is highly innovative and comprehensive. This makes it an attractive solution for residents of apartment blocks, and its implementation can significantly reduce the environmental impact. Full article

Today, to properly address circular economy practices, strategic decisions encompassing all the various life cycle stages of products or services have become critically important in the market. However, companies still have difficulties in balancing the technical and environmental requirements of their offerings, and numerous studies outline the need for more research on ecodesign tools to support them in decision-making. To reduce such a research gap, a decision-making framework based on the integrated use of the quality function deployment for the environment (QFDE), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), and TOWS matrix methods was developed through a case study related to the provision of photovoltaic solar systems for domestic use. The results achieved show that to better enhance the company’s offering of ensuring customer satisfaction and green compliance, a shift towards a product–service system (PSS) approach is required, and practical implementation strategies are suggested. Overall, this study contributes to the environmental research literature by streamlining marketing strategy planning decision-making through a novel QFD-based approach that aligns customer requirements with environmental concerns and improvement options. Thus, it provides both academics and practitioners with a useful framework to better address the implementation of circular economy practices. Full article

Supply chain and logistics management is of tremendous importance for multinational organizations. Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) provide logistics services and smooth logistics operations between suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and customers. This paper uses a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to identify the current trends and future developments of LSPs and the underlying (smart) logistics operations connected to the concept of lifecycle management. An SLR review was conducted to identify relevant research papers in the areas of LSPs and logistics lifecycle management. Out of 288 papers analyzed, 81 were identified as highly appropriate for in-depth analysis. The LSP Lifecycle Model (LSLM) was then developed by combining logistics service characteristics and the lifecycle management concept, including Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Service Lifecycle Management (SLM), and Product Service System (PSS). The LSLM consists of three phases: The Beginning of Life (BOL), the Middle of Life (MOL), and the End of Life (EOL). The LSLM is characterized by three phases, eight criteria, and seventeen sub-criteria. This paper aims to fulfil customer requirements through a product or service in the whole lifecycle of the logistics service provider. The findings further present an adaptable LSLM by focusing on various logistics services and integrating sustainability factors to meet market trends. Logistics cost factors can also be used to evaluate logistics services in the MOL stage. The EOL shows the trend of risk management, evaluation, and decomposition, which is determined by new or re-designed logistics products and services. Full article

This research paper explains how, in the last twenty years, the study and research of product service systems (PSSs) in the automobile sphere has experienced high growth due to its unique approach in enriching customer value and experience, strengthening product competence for both customers and providers, and facilitating improved control and management over the product lifecycle. The review of the literature for the automobile sphere is classified into four categories: (i) numbers of publications per year, (ii) journal-specific publications, (iii) year-wise publications, and (iv) growth of research based on applied techniques. The integration of additional services proves instrumental in improving product design, optimizing operations, and offering innovative new services. Additionally, this paper explains how the product service system (PSS) plays an important role in enriching outcomes from customers, efficiency of the product, and lifecycle management. Its future scope lies in integration and fostering innovative ideas, improved customer service, and performance-based contracts because PSSs can drive long-term relationships, trust, and growth in the industry. The paper emphasizes the importance of user-centered design and innovative business models. The primary objective of this review paper is to provide a comprehensive analysis of product service systems (PSSs) in the automobile industry, focusing on progress, challenges, and opportunities, with the aim of responding to the evolution of consumer behavior through innovative innovations such as digitalization and sustainability integration. Full article

Idea generation is often considered the biggest influence on both the value creation and sustainability of a product–service system. Although several researchers have put forward sustainable innovation tools, there has been limited research into potential tools that can support the ideation stage for future sustainable fashion professionals. In this study, we aim to address this gap by (1) critically examining the management control systems that support the ideation phase and how different types of tools assist sustainability innovation, (2) investigating the potential value of co-creation in the ideation phase, and (3) evaluating a sustainable fashion toolkit designed for use in co-creation workshops. The proposed application of the toolkit was tested with designers, marketers, and entrepreneurs in several co-creation workshops (n = 147) that examined the users’ experiences and the toolkit’s usefulness using task analysis. In-depth interviews with industry professionals and educators were also conducted to identify the key criteria for optimal tool development and use in both industrial and educational contexts. This study contributes at a theoretical level by proposing a sustainable fashion innovation tool that considers management control systems and practical guidelines for tool development and by delineating implications for the future of sustainable fashion education and skills. Full article

This study evaluates the presence of sustainability parameters in the product development process, especially in the early stages of innovation, using the Sustainability Technology Readiness Level (STRL) tool. STRL assesses the initial planning of products or product and service systems (PSS) and suggests possibilities for incorporating sustainable features in the short, medium, and long term based on responses from startups (EBTs). The research was conducted in two ecosystems at different maturity levels: Florianópolis (Brazil), a more mature stage, and Santander (Colombia), which is growing, considering their cultural and social differences. To validate the STRL tool, four out of the eighteen winning startups from the MuEBTe SANTANDER public funding project in Colombia were selected. Characteristics of the two researched ecosystems, their actors, strengths, approaches, and expansion possibilities were identified and compared. The innovation lies in establishing a sustainable baseline when applying the tool by acquiring the front-end characteristic matrix. It was observed that sustainability as a variable has relevance and independence from product design in product planning, allowing for the selection of short, medium, and long-term actions throughout the product’s lifecycle. It was concluded that considering sustainability involves context and vision, resulting in significant choices of materials, processes, and production methods that add value and appreciation for the customer. Full article

Driven by servitization, an increasing number of manufacturing companies are transforming from being a pure product provider to a provider of Product–Service Systems (PSS). PSS offer unique benefits to both providers and customers by combining physical products and intangible services. However, this results in an increase in variety for the provider, which causes an increase in variety-induced complexity and, finally, also in costs. This correlation is proven based on the literature; possible approaches to manage the complexity are presented and the current research gap is addressed. To address the gap, a method for the development of modular architectures for PSS is presented in this paper. The method comprises five phases and supports companies from identifying PSS-based business models up to modularizing product components and service components. To validate this method, it is first applied to the example of a product family of pressure-reducing valves and then its results are discussed afterwards. It is proven that this method is suitable for the development of modular PSS architectures, but there is also a need for further research, which is described in the Conclusions section. Full article