Life-Cycle Perspectives of Product/Service- Systems: In Design Theory

Manufacturers are moving more and more towards the business approach of Product/Service Systems (PSS) in order to achieve greater revenue. PSS have many benefits such as achieving closer customer connection and generating increased profit from manufactured products. However, in order to achieve a PSS which is adapted for this business approach, the products and services used need to consider a life-cycle perspective. The business approach of PSS allows for the provider to control the flows of physical products, both the forward flow to the user and the reverse flow of products back to the provider. This new logic of material/product flows allows for adaptations along the product life-cycle. For example, maintenance and end-of-life strategies such as remanufacturing can become more beneficial due to the new circumstances that PSS provide the manufacturer. The aim of this chapter is to elucidate how manufacturers can develop their PSS with a life-cycle perspective. It shows the many aspects that should be considered throughout the life-cycle of both physical products and services. In addition, several considerations and theories are presented for the different stages of the PSS life-cycle. Finally, this chapter presents theory on product/service design with a life-cycle perspective, which serves as a base for the practical design considerations presented in Chapter 3 of this book.