Towards an Uncertainty Framework for Product Service Systems of Systems

Abstract

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.

Proposition of an ontology to support product service systems of systems engineering

“…(2) the infrastructure, and (3) the humans and agents. 3,5 "Interfaces" define the functional and structural interfaces between heterogeneous "systems. "…”

“…Like PSSs, PSSoSs are heteroge-neous, and customer-oriented. 3 PSSoSs are as complex as SoSs and show diversity and emergence characteristics. 4 Thus, in the context of a PSSoS, independent stakeholders collaborate to provide a service.…”

A Meta-Model for Product Service Systems of Systems

“…A PSSoS is defined by Hein et al (2018) as a PSS showing characteristics of Systems of systems (SoSs), namely operational and managerial independence of the elements, emergent behaviour, etc (Maier, 1996). Hence, PSSoSs development raises new design challenges (Fakhfakh et al, 2019). Systems are heterogeneous and independent.…”

“…Therefore, it is important to address these new challenges by integrating the characteristics of a PSSoS into an appropriate PSSoS design method. However, PSS and SoS have been studied separately in the literature (Fakhfakh et al, 2019). Studying both PSS design methods and SoS design methods, Hein et al (2018) showed that:  PSS design methods rarely consider the increasing complexity of PSSs.…”

“…The patterns can be differentiated based on the nature of the relationships between SoS component systems (Kinder et al, 2012). We aim to represent increasingly complex use-oriented and result-oriented PSS/ PSSoS (Fakhfakh et al, 2019). Hence, we adopt a service engineering perspective and integrate PSS and SoS key concepts in a four views PSSoS model (Figure 1): stakeholders view, service view, system view, and operational view.…”