| 1. |
- Flankegård, Filip
(författare)
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Supplier Involvement in Product Development: A Supplier Perspective
- 2022
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis explores the supplier perspective of supplier involvement in product development. Supplier involvement in product development is crucial for many companies to increase resource flexibility, access competence, reduce costs and time to market, among others. The existing literature focuses primarily on the customer perspective of supplier involvement, e.g., challenges and critical factors customers should consider. A few studies have focused on the supplier perspective. This research gap is addressed in this thesis by studying the conditions influencing the suppliers’ involvement in customers’ product development.This thesis explores two research questions: “What are the challenges suppliers experience when being involved in customers’ product development?”, and “What mitigating mechanisms and critical factors influence suppliers’ involvement in customers’ product development?”. The identified challenges originated [FF1] both from the customer and the supplier, indicating that both types of challenges must be focused on. The study also identified interdependencies between the challenges, implying that one challenge may lead to the occurrence of other challenges. The study suggests mitigating mechanisms to deal with the identified challenges. The identified critical factors influenced both the efficiency and effectiveness of supplier involvement in product development, e.g., lead-time, development cost, product quality, and cost. The study indicates that adopting a dual perspective and considering the challenges and critical factors for both the customer and the supplier, can support the involved supplier. The results build on findings from a case study including four SMEs.
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| 2. |
- Alayón, Claudia, et al.
(författare)
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Barriers and Enablers for the Adoption of Sustainable Manufacturing by Manufacturing SMEs
- 2022
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - : MDPI. - 2071-1050. ; 14:4
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have inherent characteristics, which require specific solutions for improving the sustainability performance of their operations. The purpose of this paper is to increase the knowledge on barriers and enablers for the adoption of sustainable manufacturing by manufacturing SMEs and to provide insights into what enablers can be used to overcome existing barriers. Taking, as a starting point, a systematic literature review, this paper presents a categorization of barriers and enablers for the adoption of sustainable manufacturing by manufacturing SMEs. In total, seven categories for classifying the barriers and enablers for the adoption of sustainable manufacturing within SMEs were identified: organizational, managerial and attitudinal; informational; governmental; financial; training and skills development; market and business context; and technological. Additionally, this study elaborates on what barriers could be mitigated through the enablers. This study found specific enablers with the potential to mitigate a significantly higher number of barriers and referred to them as ‘critical enablers’. SMEs aiming to adopt sustainable manufacturing practices or improve their sustainability performance are encouraged to focus on the enablers in these categories. This paper synthesizes and facilitates interpretation of the existing body of evidence on barriers and enablers for adopting sustainable manufacturing in SMEs.
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| 3. |
- Alayon, Claudia, et al.
(författare)
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Sustainable production adoption by Surface Treatment SMES : challenges and enablers
- 2015
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Ingår i: Global Cleaner Production & Sustainable Consumption Conference 2015 GCPC2015.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The adoption to sustainable production is a continuous but necessary strive for manufacturing operations, including small and medium enterprises, SMEs. Meeting the future needs of the economic, social and environmental dimensions provides challenges for SMEs. In order to meet these challenges, understanding of internal and external enablers is required. Studies focusing on the enablers for sustainability among SMEs are rare; hence these companies are important players in the supply chain to focal companies. In order to enhance the understanding of the adoption of sustainable production for the sector surface treatment SMEs, an exploratory study has been conducted. In this study, the focus has been placed in the identification and analysis of the challenges and enablers for adoption of sustainable production. Two stages of empirical data collection were undertaken: a focus group session and an online questionnaire. The findings present challenges based on the limitations of the surface treatment process but also where enablers for the social, economic and environmental for meeting those challenges are interrelated. The results showed that these SMEs face challenges in their way towards sustainable production, mainly due to: low economic profitability, need for improvement in old working procedures, lack of fully understanding regarding environmental legislation, difficulty in ensuring workforce, lack of technology development and resistance towards change. These challenges could be faced through internal and external enablers, where the support of large-size customers and other stakeholders is critical for this sector.
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| 4. |
- Chirumalla, Koteshwar, Associate Professor, et al.
(författare)
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Circular Business Models for the Electric Vehicle Battery Second Life : Navigating Battery Ecosystem Actors Towards Circularity
- 2024
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The electrification of vehicles has become a critical means to achieve climate-neutral transportation. As more electric vehicles (EV) are adopted, an increasing number of lithiumion batteries will be utilized, inevitably experiencing capacity degradation over time. Retaining the value of these retired batteries through remanufacturing, reusing, and repurposing to create a second life holds significant environmental and economic benefits. However, many companies within the battery ecosystem struggle to capitalize on this opportunity due to a lack of business insight and suitable business models tailored to their operational contexts.The ReCreate (Second Life Management of Electric Vehicle Batteries) research project was initiated to address these industrial needs through close collaboration with selected companies in the battery ecosystem. The project aims to define appropriate circular business models, methods, and processes to guide battery ecosystem actors in developing and implementing electric vehicle battery second life solutions, thereby advancing circularity around batteries and climate-neutral objectives. This handbook represents the culmination of three years of research within the ReCreate project. Its purpose is to present a simplified and practical overview of project outcomes across a series of key chapters. Comprising six chapters, the handbook will begin by discussing barriers and enablers, followed by circular business models and battery ecosystem management. It will then delve into design principles and performance monitoring guidelines, concluding with an integrated framework for second life and circular solutions for EV batteries. Each chapter briefly presents the main findings of the theme and concludes with discussion questions. The discussion questions include suggestions for relevant templates for workshops, and all templates are conveniently provided in the appendix for practical application. These templates serve as boundary objects, offering a starting point for internal and external cross-functional and cross-organizational dialogues within the electric vehicle battery ecosystem. They facilitate discussions and collaborations among various stakeholders, fostering alignment and synergy in developing circular business models for the second life of EV batteries. By facilitating reflection on current business strategies, needs, and pain points, the handbook aims to aid in the definition of future second life business strategies. We anticipate that this handbook will serve as a valuable resource for actors within the EV battery ecosystem, supporting their journey towards climate-neutral transportation.
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| 5. |
- Dahlquist, Erik, 1951-, et al.
(författare)
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Balancing Power in Sweden Using Different Renewable Resources, Varying Prices, and Storages Like Batteries in a Resilient Energy System
- 2023
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Ingår i: Energies. - 1996-1073. ; 16:12, s. 4734-4734
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper, balancing electricity production using renewable energy such as wind power, PV cells, hydropower, and CHP (combined heat and power) with biomass is carried out in relation to electricity consumption in primarily one major region in Sweden, SE-3, which contains 75% of the country's population. The time perspective is hours and days. Statistics with respect to power production and consumption are analyzed and used as input for power-balance calculations. How long periods are with low or high production, as well as the energy for charge and discharge that is needed to maintain a generally constant power production, is analyzed. One conclusion is that if the difference in production were to be completely covered with battery capacity it would be expensive, but if a large part of the difference were met by a shifting load it would be possible to cover the rest with battery storage in an economical way. To enhance the economy with battery storage, second-life batteries are proposed to reduce the capital cost in particular. Batteries are compared to hydrogen as an energy carrier. The efficiency of a battery system is higher than that of hydrogen plus fuel cells, but in general much fewer precious materials are needed with an H-2/fuel-cell system than with batteries. The paper discusses how to make the energy system more robust and resilient.
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| 6. |
- Flankegård, Filip, et al.
(författare)
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Challenges with supplier involvement in product development : A supplier's perspective
- 2019
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED. - : Cambridge University Press. ; 1:1, s. 2179-2188
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Studies of supplier involvement in product development have revealed potential benefits including faster time to market, reduced cost and increased quality. However, existing literature has mainly focused on the customer's perspective on advantages, disadvantages and factors to be considered when involving suppliers in product development. This paper addresses the supplier's perspective by answering following research question: How do challenges that originate from involvement in customer's product development affect a supplier? The question is answered through a single case study at a supplier that develops and manufacture products primary used in capital goods. Thirteen challenges are identified, classified as being internal or external, and categorised into five areas: (A) Customer requirements, (B) Information exchange between customer and supplier, (C) Product variety management, (D) Design-manufacturing integration and (E) Processes and work instructions. The findings suggest that internal challenges need as much attention as external ones that originate from the customer. Also, an indication of when the challenges affect the supplier during product development is presented.
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| 7. |
- Flankegård, Filip, et al.
(författare)
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Supplier involvement in product development : Challenges and mitigating mechanisms from a supplier perspective
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of engineering and technology management. - : Elsevier. - 0923-4748 .- 1879-1719. ; 60
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article explores challenges that suppliers experience when being involved in customers’ product development projects, and how these challenges can be mitigated. It presents a framework of supplier involvement in product development involving four dimensions: People-Process-Tools/Technology-Interaction. The framework consists of 24 challenges and associated mitigating mechanisms. The article concludes that suppliers must be aware of the challenges to ensure that proper internal capabilities are in place within their organizations. It also argues that customers should be aware of the challenges to provide best possible prerequisites for suppliers to ensure successful project outcomes.
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| 8. |
- Gustafsson, Christopher, et al.
(författare)
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Application of lean methods and tools in servitization : A literature review
- 2018
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Ingår i: ISPIM Conference Proceedings 2018.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Researchers has been studied and applied lean thinking in different industries and contexts, such as product development, production systems, and sustainability. However, there is a limited knowledge on the application of lean thinking to the servitization context. In particular, there is a lack of theoretical and practical understanding on how to apply lean methods and tools for the benefit of servitization of manufacturing. Based on a systematic literature review, the paper reports specific lean methods and tools that are applied in servitization of manufacturing. Further, the paper discusses enablers and barriers, and opportunities and challenges with the application of lean methods and tools in servitization. Finally, based on the literature analysis, the paper pin points five future research directions to achieve a systematic lean servitization in manufacturing companies.
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| 9. |
- Javadi, Siavash, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Information quality in the product introduction process : Examination of the influences of low-volume manufacturing characteristics
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of manufacturing research. - 1741-038X. ; 27:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Efficiently transitioning from product design to production is crucial in ensuring thesuccessful introduction of new products. This paper delves into the often-understudiedrealm of information content quality within the interface between product design andproduction, particularly in the context of low-volume manufacturing industries. It seeksto bridge the knowledge gap by exploring how the distinctive characteristics of lowvolumemanufacturing affect the quality of shared information, encompassing criteriasuch as completeness, accuracy, clarity, and correctness. Drawing from a comprehensivecase study conducted at a low-volume manufacturing firm specializing in earthmovingand construction equipment, this research sheds light on the intricate relationship betweeninformation content quality and the specific attributes of low-volume manufacturing. Ithighlights the profound impact of these characteristics on information content quality andelucidates how subpar information content quality can disrupt the product introductionprocess, potentially leading to cost overruns, production delays, and quality issues. Thisstudy contributes to the existing body of knowledge on information quality within theproduct design and production interface and extends its focus to the often-neglected lowvolumemanufacturing sector. By emphasizing completeness, accuracy, clarity, andcorrectness as pivotal information content quality criteria and their implications for theproduct introduction process, this paper advances the understanding of informationquality management in low-volume manufacturing companies.
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| 10. |
- Johansson, Glenn, 1967-, et al.
(författare)
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An analysis of product properties affecting performance of end-of-life systems for electrical and electronics equipment
- 2008
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Ingår i: Management of environmental quality. - : Emerald. - 1477-7835 .- 1758-6119. ; 19:6, s. 705-717
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose - On the basis of empirical studies this paper aims at identifying and analysing product properties that affect performance of end-of-life systems for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Design/Methodology/Approach – The research was carried out as case studies of end-of-life management of EEE. Case A focused on disassembly of computer screens and TV-sets, whereas Case B addressed logistics systems for recycling of various types of EEE. Data collection methods include interviews, on-site visits and observations, video recording, and studies of documents. Findings – Nine product properties that affect performance of end-of-life systems for EEE are identified. The properties relate to three different product levels: the product assortment level, the product structure level, and the component level. A model is presented which indicates that choices made and decisions taken in the product development process affect the end-of-life system performance. Application of modular product architectures and component standardisation are suggested as relevant design strategies during product development. Practical implications - The implications for managers are that the findings presented in this paper provide strengthened arguments that modular product architectures and component standardisation are favourable approaches to apply in product development. Complementary to the benefits for manufacturing and logistics also end-of-life system performance will improve when these approaches are applied. Originality/Value - Previous research has indicated some product properties that are supposed to influence performance of end-of-life systems. These properties originate primarily from conceptual discussions rather than empirical studies. This paper add to current understanding by presenting empirically based insights regarding which specific product properties affect performance.
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| 11. |
- Johansson, Glenn, 1967-
(författare)
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Environmental performance requirements in product development : an exploratory study of two development projects
- 2001
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In recent years, Ecodesign has attracted increased attention from researchers. In this thesis, the term Ecodesign refers to the actions taken and activities carried out originating from the incorporation of environmental performance requirements in a product development project. Earlier Ecodesign research has primarily focused on the development of various tools for supporting practitioners. Only a few studies have focused on how the incorporation of environmental performance requirements affects development projects and the changes that a development organisation undergoes to become more environmentally conscious. The objective of this thesis is therefore to explore characteristics of product development projects originating from the incorporation of environmental performance requirements.The empirical material has been collected from two in-depth case studies of product development projects in which new and complex business-to-business products were developed. The first case study addressed a project in which a telecommunications product was developed. The study occupied approximately 1 ½ years and was performed as a real-time, longitudinal study. The second case study was performed as an ex-post study and addressed a product development project in which a new power generating gas turbine was developed.The analysis, which takes as its starting point a number of essential product development elements derived from the literature, revealed a number of differences between the projects. These differences seem largely tobe due to different levels of Ecodesign experience in the development organisations carrying out each project. When relating the development organisations' level of Ecodesign experience to a three-phase model of theEcodesign integration process presented in earlier research, it was found that one of the organisations fitted into the model, whereas the other did not. On the basis of this finding, a fourth Ecodesign integration phase was detected and denoted the Innovative Ecodesign phase. Complementing the existing model with this new phase, the so-called Extended Ecodesign Integration model was developed. The model shows that the focus in development projects carried out within development organisations in the first three phases of Ecodesign seems to be set on the environment and integration of Ecodesign in the development process. Development organisations that have reached the Innovative Ecodesign phase tend to direct efforts in the projects mainlytowards the application of new technology and technical problem solving in order to fulfil the environmentalperformance requirements.
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| 12. |
- Johansson, Glenn, 1967-, et al.
(författare)
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Introducing environmental concerns in manufacturing strategies : Implications for the decision criteria
- 2010
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Ingår i: Management Research Review. - : Emerald. - 2040-8269 .- 2040-8277. ; 33:9, s. 877-899
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose – Concern for environmental issues has entered the agenda in many companies within the manufacturing industry. The purpose of this paper is to analyse implications for the decision criteria when environmental issues are introduced into manufacturing strategy. Furthermore, the purpose is to present a framework illustrating how concern for environmental issues affects the manufacturing strategy formulation process.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a review of literature on environmentally conscious manufacturing and literature on manufacturing strategy. These two fields of research are merged in the analysis.Findings – The analysis shows that concern for environmental issues may lead to a number of potential implications for the decision criteria. These implications may, in turn, affect the manufacturing strategy formulation process. A framework is presented that illustrates the interrelationships between the drivers for environmental concern, effects for the competitive priorities, implications for the decision criteria, and how it may affect the manufacturing strategy formulation process.Research limitations/implications – Inclusion of environmental issues potentially complicates the manufacturing strategy formulation process. This implies a need for further studies on the challenges companies face in the strategy formulation process.Practical implications – The implications for the decision criteria and the framework presented in the paper may encourage companies to prepare for inclusion of environmental concern in the manufacturing strategy formulation process.Originality/value – Manufacturing strategy has not traditionally included concern for environmental issues. The paper adopts a novel approach in which research findings on environmental concern are integrated with literature on manufacturing strategy.
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| 13. |
- Johansson, Glenn, 1967-, et al.
(författare)
-
Sustainable manufacturing
- 2019. - 1
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Bok (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The transition to more sustainable manufacturing is urgently needed. We need to produce with radically less use of energy, virgin material and other resources. As a response to those needs, sustainable manufacturing has emerged as a concept and practise with the underlaying goal that manufacturing shall preserve resources, still contributing to economic growth and human welfare. The manufacturing industry plays a central role in addressing the UN’s global sustainable development goals.Sustainable Manufacturing focuses on development and operations of manufacturing systems and processes, with manufacturing’s environmental impacts in focus. The chapters are organised from a life cycle perspective bringing up topics and showing how a manufacturing company can address sustainability issues in each life cycle stage.This book is designed to be an introductory textbook applicable for students in higher education and for industrial practitioners, seeking an overview of sustainable manufacturing. It contains nine chapters which are easy to digest and include numerous examples of how to implement sustainable manufacturing in practice.
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| 14. |
- Kvarnemo, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Project portfolio management in technology transformation situations
- 2020
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Ingår i: 26th International Association for Management of Technology Conference, IAMOT 2017. - : International Association for Management of Technology Conference (IAMOT) and the Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria. - 9783200049864 ; , s. 480-487
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Project portfolio management (PPM) is central for project-based firms to achieve structure and prioritization among multiple projects. Competitive pressures, emergence of new technology and constantly changing customer demand imply a dynamic nature of PPM that calls for adjustments to different situations. This paper investigates PPM challenges that a company in the lighting industry face during a technology transformation from fluorescent technology to LED technology. The technology transformation resembles a modular innovation and the question asked is: How does technology transformation influence the project selection process? The findings rest upon an in-depth case study where data was collected via narrative interviews with representatives having detailed insights into the company's PPM activities and decisions. The key findings from the study are: (1) When a company faces a technology, which involves most products in the portfolio to be converted to a new technology, the project selection focus shifts from “what products should be developed” to “in what order should the products be developed”. (2) The technology transformation might lead to that the planned order for carrying out projects can be frequently changed due to reprioritizations during project execution phase. Based on the key findings it can be concluded that PPM selection seems more dynamic than postulated in the literature. This paper contributes with increased insights into the dynamic nature of project selection, specifically related to a technology transformation situations characterized by modular innovation. Further studies are needed regarding effects of other kinds of technology transformations on project selection activities and decisions as well as other factors contributing to the dynamics of PPM.
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| 15. |
- Orejuela, Silvia, et al.
(författare)
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MANAGERS' UNDERSTANDING OF AGILE IN HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT
- 2023
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the Design Society, Vol. 3. - : Cambridge University Press. ; 3, s. 2515-2524
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The agile methodology is gaining attention among practitioners and researchers in hardware development. As a new methodology, it is a source of misunderstandings and misinterpretations. This is problematic at the managers' levels as they may hinder its adoption or lead to its impractical implementation and use. This study, therefore, aims to explore the manager's level of understanding of the agile methodology. The study identifies the similarities and differences between the fundamental elements of the agile methodology and the elements mentioned by managers in hardware development. The fundamental elements of the agile methodology are identified based on the elements presented in the Scrum method; the elements mentioned by managers are identified based on ten semi-structured interviews with managers in hardware development. The study shows that the understanding of the agile methodology varies largely among managers. The obtained detailed insights in the managers' level of understanding of the agile methodology could be used to develop appropriate support to facilitate its adoption and implementation.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- Wlazlak, Paraskeva, et al.
(författare)
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Integration of Suppliers’ Workflows in the OEMs’ New Product Development Process
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Procedia Manufacturing. - : Elsevier. - 2351-9789. ; , s. 479-486
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research explores integration of the suppliers’ workflows in the OEM’s new product development (NPD) process, to support the production ramp-up. Based on multiple-case study approach, incorporating both the OEM and the supplier perspective, this research explains critical aspects for the integration of suppliers’ workflows in the OEM’s NPD process, and when these aspects need to be addressed. The results show that face-to-face meeting on a project level, standardized work model, readiness of the component specifications, role of Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) engineer, quality assurance document provided to the suppliers, etc. are critical aspects.
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| 19. |
- Wlazlak, Paraskeva
(författare)
-
Management of the industrialisation process in distributed geographical and organisational contexts
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Management of new product development (NPD) is one of the most critical capabilities of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The industrialisation process plays a major role in NPD, where the final verification of the product and production system takes place. It is during the industrialisation process that various disturbances arise; if these are not managed, they can delay the production start and prolong production ramp up.Based on two dimensions, geographical and organisational distribution, the following four different types of contexts are defined in this thesis: industrialisation in the local and intra-organisational context (type 1), industrialisation in the local and inter-organisational context (type 2), industrialisation in the international and intra-organisational context (type 3) and industrialisation in international and inter-organisational context (type 4). This thesis addresses types 2–4 and contributes to the literature, which has primarily dealt with the type 1 context. The purpose of the research presented in the thesis is expanding the knowledge on the industrialisation process in distributed geographical and/or organisational contexts with a focus on challenges and mechanisms; this will serve to control the challenges during the industrialisation process.The findings are based on data from three studies in the manufacturing industry, covering both single and multiple case studies. They reveal that there are some similarities between the type 2–4 contexts and challenges and mechanisms previously identified for the type 1 context. However, several unique challenges and mechanisms are found for the type 2–4 contexts. The findings also show that the challenges can be characterised as internal and external. Internal challenges appear in a single industrialisation site and are associated with internal organisational capabilities at the site. External challenges originate from the research and development (R&D) site and the integration between the R&D and industrialisation sites.The findings also reveal that the identified challenges disrupt the industrialisation process in various ways and create uncertainty and equivocality during the industrialisation process. The studies presented in this thesis show that, to deal with challenges that create uncertainty and equivocality, it is wise to allow ad hoc mechanisms to be used. One of the key conclusions is that when the industrialisation processes are carried out in type 2–4 contexts, there is a need to allow for flexibility regarding the use of mechanisms depending on the dynamics associated with the specific context.
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| 20. |
- Wlazlak, Paraskeva, et al.
(författare)
-
Visual representations for communication in geographically distributed new product development projects
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of engineering design (Print). - : Taylor & Francis. - 0954-4828 .- 1466-1837. ; 30:8-9, s. 385-403
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study addresses the role of visual representations in supporting communication between an R&D team and geographically distributed suppliers for a new product development (NPD) project. It specifically focuses on the design and use of visual representations as a feasible way for communication between the distributed actors when they face communication challenges originating from differences in skills in the English language, but also from differences in work experiences. Relying on empirical materials from a Swedish manufacturing company in the mechanical engineering industry, this paper makes the following contributions to the literature. First, it shows that visual representations are effective boundary objects able to support process-oriented and product-oriented communication in distributed NPD projects. Second, it illustrates that visual representations do not necessarily have to follow graphic design principles, but can still be effective if distributed actors share the same project context. Finally, it highlights the need for a dynamic and context-dependent perspective on communication in NPD projects.
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| 21. |
- Åkesson, Jennie
(författare)
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Design of Product-Service Systems in SMEs : Exploring challenges and the influence of firm characteristics
- 2022
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The manufacturing industry is essential in the transition towards a Circular Economy and a more sustainable society. One way manufacturing companies can become more sustainable and contribute to a resource-efficient society is by offering Product-Service Systems (PSS). PSS means integrating products and services through different types of business models, such as product pooling, leasing, sharing, and other product-related services. Designing PSS is both about the tangible product offering and the design of the complete system around the product. Therefore, it is required for manufacturing companies to have a systems approach when designing PSS. The majority of studies in the PSS field have been conducted from a large-company perspective, and it has been limited focus considering the context and characteristics of SMEs. This thesis aims to contribute to the PSS and servitisation literature by addressing the research gap and lack of insights in studies related to PSS design in a manufacturing SME context.This research is based on a systematic literature review and empirical data from three contract manufacturing SMEs. The findings show that SMEs face both internal and external challenges when designing PSS. The challenges identified are related to several parts of the organisation and are also interconnected and overlapping. Besides, SMEs' characteristics also influence these challenges, showing the importance of the context when discussing challenges in designing PSS in SMEs. The study shows that characteristics such as lack of financial resources influence more than one challenge, making it difficult for SMEs to know which challenges to prioritise when designing PSS. Also, as the studied SMEs are contract manufacturers to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), they need acceptance and support from their OEM customers, but they may not gain customer acceptance. The study indicates that SMEs need to decide if they should design PSS with their customers or find a business opportunity and design PSS independently, despite lacking vital resources needed for PSS design.Keywords: Product-Service Systems, Small and medium-sized enterprises, Servitization, challenges, SME characteristics, manufacturing companies, circular economy
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
- Åkesson, Jennie, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring Challenges to Design Product-Service Systems in SMEs : A Case Study
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering. - : IOS Press BV. - 9781614994398 ; , s. 63-74
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The transition towards a circular economy (CE) is part of the solution to reduce the global consumption of natural resources and increase resource efficiency in society. Product-Service Systems (PSS) is seen as one of the effective ways of moving towards a CE. PSS leads to an increase in product use by sharing or renting, and by extending material and product lifecycles through repair, remanufacturing, reuse and recycling. Therefore, designing PSSs have great potential to facilitate the CE transition. Many SMEs show an increased interest in a CE transition; however, they fall short in taking the right path towards designing PSS. Designing PSSs involve a rearrangement of resources, and SMEs usually do not possess the same resources as larger firms. Previous research clarifies that the transition from traditional product design to designing PSS is challenging for SMEs. This paper adds insights to the PSS literature and industrial practices through a single-case study by identifying and describing the challenges an SME may face when intending to design PSS. The data is based on interviews, workshops, and internal archive documents. The findings show that an SME faces both internal and external challenges. The internal challenges related to time constraints, the current business model, lack of financial resources, organisational structure and internal processes, dedicated employees for business and service development, and competence. The external challenges relate to SMEs position in the value chain, customer interests in PSS solutions, and handling of reversed logistics.
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| 24. |
- Åkesson, Jennie, et al.
(författare)
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How the characteristics of small and medium-sized enterprises influence product-service systems design challenges
- 2023
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Manufacturing Research. - : Inderscience Publishers. - 1750-0591. ; :4, s. 434-453
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Manufacturing companies can contribute to a resource-efficient society by designing product-service systems (PSS). Despite the increased importance of PSS for the manufacturing industry in their efforts to become sustainable, few studies focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study presented in this article aims to add knowledge on how the characteristics of SMEs influence the challenges SMEs experience when designing PSS. It employs a multiple case study design where data are based on interviews, workshops, and internal archive documents from three contract manufacturing SMEs. The analysis suggests that nine SME characteristics influence the challenges SMEs experience when designing PSS. It also shows that SMEs’ different characteristics influence one or more challenges, and that SMEs have a short-term horizon and a reactive business approach which influences the overall challenge of designing PSS.
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| 25. |
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| 26. |
- Ölvander, J., et al.
(författare)
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Preface
- 2018
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Ingår i: Proceedings of NordDesign. - Linköping : Design Research Society. - 9789176851852
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Konferensbidrag (populärvet., debatt m.m.)
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