Patrick Müller

PSS Layer Method – Application to Microenergy Systems

Within this chapter three main topics are wrapped. First, a relatively new method for the development of Product-Service Systems (PSS) called PSS Layer Method is introduced. Second, microenergy systems are introduced as a commendable example to teach the theory of Product-Service Systems. Third, sustainability as a driver for Product-Service Systems and microenergy systems will be emphasized. All three topics are set in relation to an industrial case where the PSS layer method had been applied to a microenergy system which in this case is a solar home system. Such systems are used for energy supply in off-grid installations in rural regions, e.g., in weak infrastructures of developing countries. The reader will learn the basics of the PSS layer method, be introduced to microenergy systems and get an insight on a discussion on sustainability concerns in this case. The chapter closes with reflections on experiences, recommendations for an industrial application of the PSS layer method and an outlook.

Entwicklungsprozesse hybrider Leistungsbündel – Evaluierung von Modellierungsmethoden unter Berücksichtigung zyklischer Einflussfaktoren

Die Entwicklung moderner Produkte hin zu komplexen hybriden Leistungsbundeln, bestehend aus technischen Artefakten und Dienstleistungen, erfordert eine erweiterte Betrachtung des zugehorigen Entwicklungsprozesses. Durch das temporale Verhalten interner und externer Einflussfaktoren verscharfen sich die Anforderungen an den angewandten Entwurfsprozess. Um die Voraussetzungen fur eine optimierte Modellierung des Entwicklungsprozesses zu legen, werden im Rahmen dieses Beitrags die anzulegenden Kriterien identifiziert, existierende Modellierungsmethoden evaluiert und der zukunftige Handlungsbedarf aufgezeigt.

Study on Collaborative Product Development and Digital Engineering Tools

Today, product development is characterized by cross-company collaboration and an intensive exchange of product data. Engineers typically apply a multitude of digital engineering tools and act in diverse engineering processes. In a current study, the “culture” of today’s collaborative product development was investigated in significant detail. The questions are: How do engineers work today? Which tasks play a major role in their daily business? How much time is remaining for core engineering tasks like design, calculation and design validation? How do engineers assess their workplace (environment)? Where are opportunities for enhancement of processes and digital engineering tools? In total, 1,401 engineers answered the questionnaires. Details of the study and selected findings are presented in this paper. Interesting findings are related to collaborative engineering and engineering design, Product Data and Lifecycle Management (PDM/PLM), virtual product creation, information and process management, and new media in engineering design.

Integrated Evaluation of a PSS Business Case and a PSS Design Method – Application of the PSS Layer Method to an industrial Drilling Solution

A multitude of PSS design methods has been published but industrial application is sparse. The paper introduces a new case of integrated product-service offerings in the construction business. Then, we apply the PSS Layer Method developed earlier to evaluate this method further on and to publish new experiences. We show that the method is a helpful tool to describe integrated offerings, thus product-service systems, holistically. Generalized findings on what industry is not addressing enough in PSS development will be given.

Knowledge Generation as a Means to Improve Development Processes of Industrial Product-Service Systems

In business-to-business and also business-to-customer markets there is a tendency towards combined offers of products and services, which are sold in one package to fulfil customer needs. These combinations of products and services are called product-service systems (PSS) or industrial product-service systems (IPS2) in case of industrial application. Feedback approaches for knowledge which can be captured during the delivery and use phase of IPS2 are discussed in this paper. This knowledge is notably valuable for the development process of IPS2. The focus is on knowledge generation systems capturing information related to products and processes anywhere available. These, so called Virtual Life Cycle Units (VLCU) collect operation data of products and services and generate knowledge about the systems behaviour or usage. Both development and operation benefit of captured information and generated knowledge to improve systems development and operation projects. The role of the knowledge generation, enabled by the VLCU, in the IPS2 development process will be described in detail using different PSS examples and business models.

Transformation Towards an IPS2 Business: A Deployment Approach for Process-based PSS Development Projects

Existing methods and tools developed in the frame of the IPS2 research are mainly concerned with general IPS2 and service design and are still very conceptional. Deployment approaches for those methods and tools for the use in practice are hard to find. This paper proposes a deployment approach for process-based IPS2 development projects in industry, which has been designed in the scope of a German project on IPS2 Engineering. This deployment approach proposes a systematic approach for manufacturers to deploy dedicated development methodology and process-based project management methods for IPS2 development.

Virtuelle Produktentstehung in der Automobilindustrie

Einleitung Virtualisierung der Produktentstehung trägt entscheidend zur Kostenreduktion, zur Verkürzung der Produktentstehungszeiten sowie zur Steigerung der Produktqualität bei. Die Automobilindustrie hat frühzeitig diese Vorzüge erkannt und setzt verstärkt Methoden und Technologien der Virtuellen Produktentstehung (VPE) ein. In diesem Artikel werden die Methoden und Vorgehensmodelle der Virtuellen Produktentstehung dargestellt und Unterschiede und Anknüpfungspunkte zu denen der Softwareentwicklung herausgearbeitet. Der Artikel beschreibt zunächst die Phasen der Virtuellen Produktentstehung samt der zu verarbeitenden Informationen und der eingesetzten Werkzeuge (z. B. CAx, PDM). Anschließend werden die Entwicklung, die Erprobung sowie die Arbeitsvorbereitung (hierbei insbesondere die Digitale Fabrik) detailliert und relevante Informationen und Werkzeuge vorgestellt. Das Vorgehen wird mit Beispielen aus der Automobilindustrie unterlegt. Der Artikel schließt mit der Darstellung kurzund mittelfristig zu erwartender Entwicklungen der Virtuellen Produktentstehung.

PLM-Based Service Data Management in Steam Turbine Business

This paper introduces a concept applied for a new PLM-supported process in steam turbine service business. The concept has been developed and instantiated in an industrial case: The paper starts with an analysis of engineering processes and the IT landscape in a globally acting company offering MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) services for steam turbines. Illustrations show how digital product and service data is generated, edited, enriched, and managed throughout the lifecycle of a steam turbine. In order to enhance the already PLM-supported service process the concept for the new PLM process was defined within the company. The concept implements one single PDM system with interfaces to one dedicated ERP system. Illustrations of the new PLM process show how to manage product and service documentation generated throughout the steam turbine lifecycle. The paper provides first-hand experiences made in a PLM migration project, which implemented the new PLM process.

Opportunities for enhanced Project Management in PSS Development

Development processes in product and service engineering are foremost carried out as projects. One characteristic of projects is their uniqueness. As Product-Service Systems (PSS) are intended to be customized solutions, unique development projects are natural for PSS. Nevertheless, there is no specific approach to support an integrated management of product and service development projects. In our paper, we focus on opportunities, a solution approach, and software support for PSS development project management. We provide a set of opportunities how to adapt existing approaches or how to develop new methods for the purpose off fully integrated project-based PSS development.

HLB-Entwicklungsmethodik – generischer Entwicklungsprozess, Generierung von Anforderungen und Absicherung hybrider Leistungsbündel

Die Entwicklung von Sach- und Dienstleistungen verlauft heutzutage vorwiegend in getrennten Abteilungen, Entwicklungsprozessen und auch Zeitabschnitten. Ideen und Anforderungen fur Sach- und Dienstleistungen werden bisher separat generiert und es gibt auch nur wenige modellbasierte, graphische Methoden, die eine integrierte Betrachtung von Sach- und Dienstleistungen in der Planungsphase neuer hybrider Leistungsbundel (HLB) ermoglichen. Ein Integrationsbedarf, der anhand empirischer Untersuchungen belegt wurde, steht dieser bisherigen Trennung entgegen. In diesem Beitrag wird eine neue HLB-Entwicklungsmethodik vorgestellt, die eine integrierte Entwicklung von Sach- und Dienstleistungen unterstutzt. Sie beinhaltet einen generischen HLB-Entwicklungsprozess, der die Basis zur durchgangigen Anwendung neuer, aufgabenspezifischer HLB-Entwicklungsmethoden bereitstellt. So werden in diesem Beitrag auch drei neue Methoden eingefuhrt. Zwei der Methoden werden in der Planungsphase eines HLBs zur modellgetriebenen, graphischen Generierung von Anforderungen genutzt. Eine dritte dient der Absicherung von HLB-Eigenschaften durch interdisziplinare Design-Reviews in spateren Entwicklungsphasen. Im Ausblick wird gezeigt, wie der generische HLB-Entwicklungsprozess mit den neuen Methoden in das Projektmanagement der HLB-Entwicklung eingebettet und damit im industriellen Kontext anwendbar gemacht werden kann.