The Design for product service supportability (DfPSSu) methodology: Generating sector-specific guidelines and rules to improve product service systems (PSSs)

Abstract

Nowadays manufacturers’ need to systematically develop innovative integrated solutions is increasingly pushed by new technologies, a multiple functionalities demand and a change in the customer value perception. For these reasons, it is very complex for Product Service Systems (PSS) providers to fulfil all the design requirements: designers must consider all the objectives the PSS wants to achieve during its whole lifecycle according to different criteria, which are often to be considered according to a trade-off balance. At present, Design for X (DfX) design methods represent the most important attempt to enhance product development according to certain characteristics or lifecycle phases: authors believe they can also support the PSS design, redesigning or enhancing products in certain X-dimensions, in particular those ones related to “service supportability”. On this basis, a methodology generating new Design for X (DfX) guidelines has been proposed: in this paper an application case in the mold industry shows how a physical product can be improved when a service has to be added and integrated. At the same time, new industry-specific PSS design guidelines and rules are proposed.