Federico Adrodegari

Engineer-to-order (ETO) production planning and control: an empirical framework for machinery-building companies

This paper illustrates the results of an empirical study involving 21 engineer-to-order (ETO) companies, operating in the machinery-building industry. The study investigates the needs and requirements of such companies in terms of software support for governing the businesses, with particular emphasis on production planning and control (PPC) processes. An empirical analysis investigated two main aspects: (i) the set of business activities performed by the companies in the analysed industry and (ii) the relevant, high-level software functionalities required for the execution of such activities. As an answer to the observed compelling need for reviewing the general approaches to PPC in machinery-building companies, we develop an empirical, high-level production planning and scheduling reference framework, encompassing all the activities involved in the order fulfilment process.

Business models for the service transformation of industrial firms

ABSTRACT This study comprehensively reviews the literature on the service transformation of industrial firms, applying the business model (BM) perspective. Despite the wide use of the BM terminology, a true BM approach to this phenomenon is an emergent trend. We provide a threefold contribution to the research debate. First, we identify the reasons of relevance of such a BM approach to the service transformation phenomenon. Second, based on a reference model, we provide a characterization of the service transformation literature according to the BM perspective, both from the structural and the content standpoints. Third, we outline four future research directions: (i) the comprehensive and detailed structural description of BMs; (ii) the adoption of a differentiated approach to BMs; (iii) the internal and external factors affecting the choice of BMs; (iv) the transition paths.

PSS business model conceptualization and application

Abstract The discussion about business models has gained considerable attention in the last decade. Business model frameworks have been developed in the literature as management methods helping companies to comprehend and analyse their current business logic and guide the deployment of new strategies. In response to calls for a deeper understanding of the application of a business model approach to product-service systems (PSS), this study develops a two-level hierarchical framework that (i) includes a set of components with pertinent, second-order variables to take into account when undergoing the shift from products to solutions; (ii) supports industrial companies, especially SMEs, in designing their future business model and in consistently planning the actions needed to implement it. The framework was applied and refined within real-life settings. The application to KINE – a robot solutions supplier – shows how key challenges faced by servitization firms may be thoroughly addressed through the adoption of a business model perspective.

The transition towards service-oriented business models: A European survey on capital goods manufacturers

New trends for capital goods manufacturers push towards selling the products usage or performance rather than the product itself. This evolution from traditional business models, based on the product sales, to new service-oriented business models (BMs), has received increasingly attention both in the academic and managerial community. Despite this, a limited application of service offerings has been observed in the capital goods sector. This article reports the results from a survey carried out during the T-REX project, funded by the European Union under the Seventh Framework Programme, and has two objectives: (a) to empirically investigate the way BMs of capital goods companies are configured and (b) to analyse the degree of service orientation of such BMs. Finally, the main challenges for practitioners emerged from the survey are discussed in this article, highlighting directions for future research.

One-of-a-Kind Production (OKP) Planning and Control: An Empirical Framework for the Special Purpose Machines Industry

In this paper, we focus on the One-of-a-Kind Production (OKP) industry, where each product is designed and manufactured based on specific customer requirements to a large extent, according to an Engineer To Order (ETO) approach. This research has been carried out among the “SIGI-X” project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development (MISE). The paper illustrates an empirical study on the state-of-the-art of information systems supporting the leading processes in OKP companies. Through a set of 21 case studies in Italian companies producing special machines, we aim to: identify and investigate strengths and weaknesses of the main OKP business processes; analyze the ICT support and its level of integration among the different ICT solutions; identify levers for improvement, concerning organizational, methodological and informatics aspects; build a practical framework that could define and link the main processes in order to obtain a sort of guideline useful for re-engineering the processes, and laying the foundation for a new integrated ICT business template for OKP companies. The lack of support of three fundamental tasks such as project management, planning and cost control underlines that there is substantial room for improvement under the ICT support perspective. Finally, the development of an integrated IT environment to support (in particular) project management and planning activities, specifically addressed to OKP context, would help these companies to improve their performance and competitiveness.

Business Model Innovation: A Process Model and Toolset for Servitizing Industrial Firms

Product-centric firms find opportunities for increasing revenues and building new competitive advantages in a comprehensive transformation from traditional business models (BMs), based on product sales, to new service-oriented ones, where the use or the function of a product is sold instead of the product itself. However, a limited application of these models has been observed. In particular, manufacturers rarely understand how they should reconfigure the elements of their BM. This chapter describes a new methodology for the selection and design of the most appropriate service-oriented BM. In addition, the chapter describes managerial tools specifically developed to support the practical application of the methodology. The case of ULMA, a company operating in the forklift truck business, is presented to illustrate the methodology and tools in action and their benefits.