A Reference Process Model for Usage Data-Driven Product Planning

Abstract

Cyber-physical systems generate and collect huge amounts of usage data during operation. Analyzing these data may enable manufacturing companies to identify weaknesses and learn about the users of their products. Such insights are valuable in the early phases of product development like product planning, as they facilitate decision-making for product improvement. The analysis and exploitation of usage data in product planning, however, is a new task for manufacturing companies. To reduce mistakes and improve the results, companies should build upon a suitable reference process model. Unfortunately, established models for analyzing data cannot be easily applied for product planning. In this paper, we propose a reference process model for usage data-driven product planning. It builds on three well-established models for analyzing data and addresses the unique characteristics of usage datadriven product planning. Finally, we customize the model for a manufacturing company and demonstrate how it could be implemented in practice.

Planning the Analysis of Use Phase Data in Product Planning

“…Figure 1 illustrates these concepts. Meyer et al (2022) propose a reference process model for the analysis of use phase data in product planning. It consists of four main processes: (1) Planning of the use phase data analysis, (2) Analysis and data preparation, (3) Analytics workflow design and modeling, and (4) Exploitation of the data analysis results (Meyer et al, 2022).…”

“…Then, ideas for improving the product and related requirements are developed. Finally, the product strategy and other documents are updated based on the new insights, ideas, and requirements (Meyer et al, 2022). Figure 2 shows the reference process model.…”

“…The second can be examined via an analysis of the information flows between the elements of the method (Pedersen et al, 2000). Evaluation: The phases of the method correspond to the process for planning use phase data analyses according to Meyer et al (2022). Within the phases of the method, well-known and often cited papers of other authors are taken up, e.g., the Value Proposition Canvas (Osterwalder et al, 2014).…”