Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Figure 3.
Analysis of five Product-Service System cases in industry (Source: Authors’ own research)
| Company | Model | Product | PSS type | Industry | Innovation | Customer benefits | Environmental impact | Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caterpillar | Fleet Management Solutions | Construction, mining, and other machinery | Result-oriented PSS | Construction/heavy equipment | Digital heavy equipment fleet management | Optimize machine utilization, manage operating costs | Increased machine efficiency, reduced emissions and waste | Integration with hetero geneous hardware and operating systems |
| Komatsu | Smart Construction | Automatic construction machines | Platform-oriented PSS | Construction | Digital site management | Increase project efficiency, improve site safety | Optimization of construction processes, reduction of waste | Ensuring data security and integration with existing systems |
| Philips | Lighting as a Service | Lighting | Result-oriented PSS | Miscellaneous | Subscriptionbased lighting services | Access to modern lighting solutions without large upfront investment | Energy efficiency, reduced consumption of raw materials | Maintaining quality of service and technological innovation |
| Rolls-Royce | Power by the Hour | Jet engines | Result-oriented PSS | Aviation | Hours-based maintenance of aircraft engines | Reduction in maintenance costs, increased fleet availability | Optimization of resource use, less waste | Ensuring continuous availability of parts and rapid response to failures |
| Xerox | Managed Print Services | Copiers | Result-oriented PSS | Miscellaneous | Comprehensive print management | Reduction in operating costs, more efficient office processes | Reduction of paper and energy consumption, better waste management | Personalizing services to specific business needs |
Product-Service System design methods – classification by Product-Service System types that can be designed (Source: Authors’ own research)
| PSS design method type | Number of methods |
|---|---|
| Integration-oriented PSS | 37 |
| Product-oriented PSS | 49 |
| Service-oriented PSS | 64 |
| Use-oriented PSS | 48 |
| Results-oriented PSS | 40 |
Services selected by welding company employees from each area (Source: Authors’ own research)
| Service areas | Management | Middle management and supervisors | Welders and employees | Other workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welding-related services | Service and maintenance of welding machines | Service and maintenance of welding machines | Tool and equipment maintenance | Service and maintenance of welding machines |
| Spare parts and consumables | Analysis of the causes of failure | Machine operation training | Spare parts and consumables | |
| Installation and commissioning | Monitoring and diagnostics of welding machines | Cause analysis | Guarantee | |
| Rent | Spare parts and consumables | Consultation parts and consumables | Rent | |
| Services related to the welding process | Modernization and automation of welding processes | Planning and coordination of welding orders | Advanced training for welders | Automation and digitalization support |
| Diagnostics and analysis of welding processes | Optimization of welding processes | Supervision of the welding process | Technical and engineering consulting | |
| Optimization of the consumption of welding materials | Material analysis and consulting | Technical and engineering consulting | Risk management | |
| Technical consultancy | Welding project management | Delivery of materials and supplies | Supplies of binder and technical gases | |
| Health and safety at work services | Occupational risk assessment of welders | Occupational health and safety training | Personal protection | Measurements of harmful factors in the work environment |
| Consulting in the field of ergonomics of workstations | Workplace audit | Risk assessment of use | Risk management | |
| Inspection and research of the working environment | Ventilation and dust removal systems | Work clothes | Work clothes | |
| Personal protection | Consulting in the field of ergonomics of workstations | Consulting in the field of workplace ergonomics | Personal protection | |
| Quality management services | Training and certification for welders | Quality testing, weld certification, and inspections | Product quality control | Customer complaint management |
| Legal support and advice on standards and certification | Supplies of binder and technical gases | Binder and technical supplies | Benchmarking and competition analysis | |
| Quality management systems | Data analysis and reporting | Advice and consultations | Quick response to qualitative incidents | |
| Quality control of supplied raw materials | Complaints and non-compliance management | Workshops on quality control methods | Alignment with industry standards and regulations | |
| Environment services | Recycling and waste management | Environmental audit | Ecological training for employees | Recycling and waste management |
| Environmental certification | Take-back | Recycling and waste management | Energetic audit | |
| Development of corporate social responsibility programs | Life cycle analysis of welding products | Filtration and emission reduction systems | Optimization of energy consumption | |
| Optimization of energy consumption | Filtration and emission reduction systems | Monitoring of residue emissions | Take-back | |
| Additional services | Financial and insurance services | Market analysis and competition research | Services related to employee health protection | Supplier management and supply chain audits |
| Human resources development and talent management | Software updates | Adaptation to regulations and industry standards | Legal and regulatory support | |
| Maintenance of infrastructure and facilities | Access to welding parameter libraries | Planning responses to awareness | Technical and engineering consulting | |
| Legal services and intellectual property protection | Automation and digitalization support | Analysis of the cause of defects and non-conformities | Financial and insurance services |
Concept of Product–Service System for the welding industry (Source: Authors’ own research)
| Ownership | Sale | Service packages | Benefits for the customer | Benefits for the manufacturer | Environmental benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The manufacturer is the owner | Subscription | Basic package | Focus on core business | Increased customer value | Reduction of harmful impact on the environment |
| - | Payment for working time | Standard package | Flexibility and scalability | Increased competitive advantage | Reducing waste |
| - | Payment for welds performed | Advanced package | Reducing your total cost of ownership | Development of longs-term relationships with customers | Reducing energy consumption |
| - | - | Premium package | Technical and service support | New sources of revenue | Optimization of binder, technical gases, and other materials |
| - | - | - | Risk reduction | Increased brand awareness and company image | Extending the service life of the welding machine |
Product-Service System design methods – classification by verification (Source: Authors’ own research)
| Verification criterion | Number of methods |
|---|---|
| Verified in industrial practice | 19 |
| Verified in scientific projects | 22 |
| Proposed by scientists | 29 |
Service packages within the Product–Service System tailored for the welding industry (Source: Authors’ own research)
| Services areas | Basic package | Standard package | Advanced package | Premium package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welding-related services | Rent | Service and maintenance of welding machines | Analysis of the causes of failure | Automation and digitalization support |
| Guarantee | Spare parts and consumables | Monitoring and diagnostics of welding machines | Emergency response plans | |
| Installation and commissioning | Maintenance of tools and ancillary equipment | Machine operation training | Financial and insurance services | |
| Services related to the welding process | Supply of raw materials and materials | Advanced training for welders | Technical and engineering consulting | Diagnostics and analysis of welding processes |
| Supplies of binder and technical gases | Supervision of the welding process | Optimization of welding processes | Modernization and automation of welding processes | |
| Material analysis and consulting | Planning and coordination of welding orders | Optimization of the consumption of welding materials | Automation and digitalization support | |
| Health and safety at work services | Work clothes | Workplace audit | Consulting in the field of ergonomics of workstations | Ventilation and dust removal systems |
| Personal protection | Inspection and research of the working environment | Measurements of harmful factors in the work environment | Risk management | |
| Occupational health and safety training | Occupational risk assessment of welders | Services related to employee health protection | Maintenance of infrastructure and facilities | |
| Quality management services | Training and certification for welders | Quality control of supplied raw materials | Quick response to qualitative incidents | Data analysis and reporting |
| Workshops on quality control methods | Product quality control | Legal support and advice on standards and certification | Alignment with industry standards and regulations | |
| Quality management systems | Advice and consultations | Complaints and noncompliance management | Quality testing, weld certification, and inspections | |
| Environment services | Waste management | Life cycle analysis of welding products | Energetic audit | Filtration and emission reduction systems |
| Recycling and reusing | Environmental certification | Environmental audit | Monitoring emissions of harmful substances | |
| Take-back | Ecological training for employees | Environmental consulting | Optimization of energy consumption | |
| Additional services | Welding project management | Risk management | Benchmarking and competition analysis | Development of corporate social responsibility programs |
| Market analysis and competition research | Legal services | Supplier management and supply chain audits | Analysis of the causes of defects and non-conformities | |
| Software updates | Human resources development and talent management | Intellectual property protection | Access to welding parameter libraries |
Product-Service System design methods – classification by industry (Source: Authors’ own research)
| Industry | Number of methods |
|---|---|
| No reference – potentially arbitrary | 14 |
| Domestic appliances, consumer electronics, and other equipment sector | 13 |
| Mechanical engineering | 12 |
| Production sector | 11 |
| Logistics and transport | 10 |
| Construction and environmental engineering | 6 |
| Other sectors | 4 |
| Energy sector | 4 |
| Electronics sector | 3 |
| IT sector | 3 |
| Food sector | 3 |
| Training sector | 2 |
| Telecommunications sector | 2 |