A requirements data model for product service systems

Abstract

Product service systems (PSS) are bundles of physical technological elements and service elements that are integrated to solve customer problems. In practice, most components of PSS are developed independently from each other, which leads to problems with coordination of development activities and integration of PSS components. Therefore, an integrated requirements engineering for PSS is needed that deals with the involvement of developers from product engineering, software engineering, and service engineering, as well as the inherent complexity of the PSS and the development process. In a case study with the development department of a PSS provider, we analyzed requirements documents and conducted expert interviews. We identified problems in the development, for example, that requirements on different levels of abstraction are intermingled, rationales for requirements are missing, and the concretization of requirements is unclear.To solve these problems, we propose a requirements data model (RDMod) for requirements to PSS. An RDMod describes different types of requirements and the relations between them. Thus, it is a scheme for the concretization of the requirements, which especially addresses the problems of structuring the requirements, enabling traceability, and finding conflicts. We then used an analytical evaluation, a feature-based evaluation and a retrospective application with requirements analysts of the industry partner. In a joint workshop, we specified requirements for a PSS with the RDMod. In structured interviews, we analyzed the perceived advantages of the RDMod. The experts confirmed that the RDMod is applicable in their development and it provides a clear structure for the requirements and therefore helps overcoming the identified problems.

Proposal of a framework for product-service systems characterization

“…The consumer seeks to outsource a result rather than an activity and pay only for the results Berkovich et al (2014) Plan payment for an outsourced activity (services) Payment schemes for the outsourced activities Berkovich et al (2014), Tukker (2004) Plan to outsource services for high-value products Some services for high-value products may be outsourced to meet the consumer's needs Berkovich et al (2014), Besch (2005) Deliver results The provider personalizes the service to better meet consumers' needs Aurich et al (2010) Plan the product property Plan the property in order to make the product available for different consumers Alix & Zacharewicz (2012) Provide consumer with personalized services…”

“…Tukker (2004), Aurich et al (2010), Berkovich et al (2014) Outsource an activity for the consumer An activity is outsourced by a specialized company Tukker (2004) Outsource a service where the provider takes up activities…”

“…In addition to outsourcing the activities to specialized companies, the provider assumes responsibility for the activities while the consumer pays only for services Berkovich et al (2014) Outsource services in which the provider delivers a result…”

“…It provides activities to identify and to address the market requirements Aurich et al (2010) Plan the product properties that belong to service providers When the product cannot be used by consumers, the provider identifies the appropriate destination for components and materials Alix & Zacharewicz (2012), Tukker (2004 Plan the service delivery model (lease, share or simultaneous use) for high-value products It is necessary to create a lease system that consumers can use products and services to meet their needs for an specific period of time without acquiring them Aurich et al (2010), Berkovich et al (2014), Besch (2005) Plan individual product access The product must be designed to be used individually Kang & Wimmer (2008), Aurich et al (2010) Plan the product share schemes Different users share the same product at different times Aurich et al (2010), Kang & Wimmer (2008) Plan the simultaneous use of the product by different users Different consumers use the products and services at the same time Kang & Wimmer (2008), Aurich et al (2010) Provide maintenance services, repair, control and post-use destination Plan the service performance before delivering a PSS to consumers Alix & Zacharewicz (2012), Besch (2005) Guide the consumer on the effective use of the product and its environmental, social and economic gains…”

Developing the models of patterns in the design of requirements to an information system at the knowledge level

“…The focus of researchers in the field of IS requirements descriptions today is on development of methods and tools, allowing creation and processing of formal models of requirements to a system [1][2][3]. By a model of requirement, we imply a complex of requirements' descriptions in ways that enable us, based on these descriptions, to perform necessary operations within the LC of IS using specific methodologies and information technologies [4].…”