Product service systems (PSS) can be understood as an innovation / business strategy that includes a set of products and services that are embedded into an actor network. This paper presents the concept of PSS-System of Systems. We present how existing PSS and system of systems design approaches can be applied to PSS-SoS design.

Product Service Systems (PSS) are increasingly complex and collaborative. For instance, manufacturing companies, service providers, and other companies collaborate and jointly develop and operate a PSS (ex: smart grid), where its constituent elements are managed and operated independently. Managerial independence and operational independence are commonly considered key characteristics of a System of Systems (SoS). Hence, a collaborative PSS exhibits System of Systems (SoSs) characteristics. These systems have previously been introduced as Product Service Systems of Systems (PSSoSs). In this paper, we propose to identify relevant uncertainties in the PSSoS design process. For this purpose, we go beyond the PSSoS concept definition and propose a comprehensive framework for PSS and PSSoS characterization. Moreover, based on both a literature review and an industrial diagnosis, we identify PSSoSs-specific design uncertainties.

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The venue of new technologies such as autonomous vehicles implies the design not only of the product but also of services related to it. These systems are known as Product Service Systems (PSS). Moreover, they are not only PSS but also System of Systems (SoS). Up till now, research has been addressing the design of PSS and SoS separately. The PSS literature focuses mainly on the product servitization and the increasing heterogeneity of PSS elements. On the other hand, the SoS literature focuses on the relationships between SoS constituent systems and their management. Both research domains propose systems modeling approaches and systems architectural patterns independently according to PSSs and SoS development contexts. In order to address this gap and support PSSoS design and development, there is a need to identify necessary data, the PSSoS ontology. The proposed ontology is developed with the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and is structured in four views: the stakeholder view, the service view, the systems view, and the operational view. The proposed model has been validated by nine industrial experts as well as five industrial projects; and is illustrated via the case of Plug&Charge within one of the major automotive French constructors.

A Product Service System of Systems (PSSoS) is a set of products, services, infrastructure, and a network where its constituent elements exhibit operational and managerial independence. As such, a PSSoS shows PSS characteristics of heterogeneity and evolvability and SoS characteristics of emergence and diversity. Neither existing PSS nor SoS development approaches fully address these characteristics. Thus, PSSoS development raises new challenges. In this paper, we propose a PSSoS meta-model that integrates PSS and SoS key concepts, to provide a basis for future PSSoS development methods.