A novel framework to link Prognostics and Health Management and Product–Service Systems using online simulation

Abstract

Product Service Systems (PSS) and Prognostic Health Management (PHM) have so far been researched individually in different domains and as unrelated research theme. However, to guarantee the availability of the asset, which is a typical demand in some PSS contracts, it is fundamental for PSS providers to be able to properly manage the asset's lifetime variability in order to avoid unscheduled downtimes and contract penalties. This paper describes part of a research project to investigate how PHM can support more effective fulfilment of some PSS contracts. In particular, this paper aims to present a novel framework to link PHM and PSS using online simulation. The paper also presents a prototype of the online simulation model and three experimental cases comparing the outcomes of the online simulation model against those obtained from the traditional simulation model.

Asset Management Framework and Tools for Facing Challenges in the Adoption of Product-Service Systems

“…The complexity of making decisions in such diverse tactics in order to overcome the barriers entails that manufacturers striving for offering a successful PSS have to develop several capabilities ranging from relationship building to technical or management capabilities [36]. Particularly, from a technical point of view, manufacturers often struggle to realize value from the products which they have to manage as own assets in PSS scenarios [15]. To this respect, AM can provide manufacturers with useful insights for enhancing the value that assets can provide to the organization and its stakeholders [37].…”

“…Likewise, researchers have investigated how maintenance optimisation may enhance operational decisions over the assets in order to guarantee the effective fulfilment of PSS contracts (TC3). Among others, Teixeira et al [15] studied the impact of optimising predictive maintenance decisions, supported by online simulation in PSS; and Jin et al [44] explored the transition of the maintenance paradigm from productoriented to result-oriented PSS. Furthermore, many authors have focused on ensuring that the supply chain is able to support AM activities in service-oriented business models (TC5), specially in terms of providing needed spare parts for maintenance (see [45]).…”

“…Based on this concept, simulation models have been implemented for optimising decisions regarding both product-service systems design [61], [62] and asset management, especially in terms of maintenance and spare parts supply [45], [58]. Likewise, some researches have been focused on optimising specific asset management problems, such as prognostics or health management, in the context of PSS [15]. However, according to the literature review, little effort has been focused on the use of simulation models as a decision support tool for making asset management decisions depending on the specific PSS business model chosen, which is the aim of the simulation model within the present framework.…”

“…Thus, decisions should achieve a compromise among the different objectives to be optimised. To this respect, multi-objective optimisation search techniques, able to provide a set of non-dominated set of solutions, should be implemented, such as Newtonians methods or multi-objectives meta-heuristics [15], [58], [64]. For the presented management framework implementation the evolutionary Non-Sorted Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA II) has been selected [65], adopting the optimisation process presented in Figure 6 (note that the population is represented by the decision variables of the asset management and service related decisions to be optimised).…”

“…Nonetheless, and besides the cultural and financial challenges related to the ownerless consumption of products, manufacturers have to face technical challenges associated to the management of PSSs within their operations [1], [12]. Such technical challenges are usually a consequence of having to own and manage their advanced and complex products as own assets in rather unknown and risky scenarios; and they are often the reason of the PSS adoption barriers [13]- [15]. In this context, physical asset management (AM) can acquire a key role in order to facilitate the management of such products (now assets) and maximize their value [16], facilitating PSS design and its performance.…”