Sustainable Product-Service Systems Customization: A Case Study Research in the Medical Equipment Sector

Abstract

The paper proposes a Product-Service System (PSS) methodology for customizing solutions to different patterns of use while achieving a better environmental performance than a stand-alone product. The approach is based on combining the Quality Function Deployment for Product-Service Systems (QFDforPSS) and the Screening Life Cycle Modeling (SLCM) tools. QFDforPSS is augmented by the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to reduce service-related ambiguities and uncertainties on the one hand and better define the product and service characteristics of the solution on the other. The SLCM evaluates the possible outcomes by determining the environmental impact and comparing it with the manufacturer’s current solution. A case study at a manufacturer of medical diagnostic equipment illustrates the use of the approach depicting the possible benefits that can arise: the PSS solution can be customized to fit customers who intensively use the product and consumers with a more moderate use. This offers flexibility and an optimized life cycle through easier maintenance, upgrades, and end-of-life schemes. Concretely, it shows how the PSS approach can enhance the development of sustainable solutions that can be adapted to varying and future customer needs, such as adjusting current solutions to new requirements, i.e., adapting existing products to COVID-19 detection and different levels of use.

Smart product-service systems in the healthcare industry: Intelligent connected products and stakeholder communication drive digital health service adoption

“…Environmental benefits such as the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, improved product lifecycle management, and good practices for waste disposal can mitigate hazardous conditions and impact the ecosystem and human health [ 20 , 49 , 50 ]. Smart PSSs change the conventional ownership paradigm, proposing a dematerialization approach and improving resource efficiency [ 12 , 33 ].…”

Product Service System Configuration Based on a PCA-QPSO-SVM Model

“…Shen et al [13] presented an ontology-based approach to represent service configuration knowledge and developed a product-extended service configuration system. Based on the combination of quality function deployment and screening life cycle modeling, Haber and Fargnoli [33] proposed a product service system method, which is based on the combination of product service system quality function deployment and screening life cycle modeling tools, which is used to customize solutions for different usage patterns and achieve better environmental performance than independent products.…”

Consumers’ Journey between Liquid and Solid Consumption

“…Servitization is, in fact, nowadays a major trend in the context of sustainability business models. Finally, another trend worth mentioning regards Product Service Systems (PSSs), which involve the development of "both tangible characteristics of the product and intangible ones related to the services surrounding the product, e.g., maintenance services and end-of-life recovery schemes, aiming to provide an integrated offering" [15]. As we will see, the sharing economy represents a multifaceted area of research and is characterized by several-both micro and macroeconomic-elements of interest affecting both the consumption as well as the production side of economic activities.…”