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Product-service co-design

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The Collaborative platform gives companies the possibility to create a community of practice. This layer is referred to all the use of ProSecCoNetwork in a collaborative way that does not imply any payment. Therefore, companies could help each other without any use of the ProSecCo consultants help, just by themselves and with the help of other companies.
Within the three methodological frameworks ProSecCo Kit offers the necessary tools and methods for the different processes in each one of them. The ProSecCo KIT consists of tools and methods to execute the different tasks of the processes defined in ProSecCo Method. The ProSecCo KIT is closely related to the ProSecCoMethod module, however, the methods and tools are developed in such a manner that they can be applied in an independent way. For example for the PS idea and opportunity generation a tool kit of “out of the box”-thinking will be provided. This tool kit would consist of instructions to lead workshops, with templates, etc. and can be used on an independent basis. Although the ProSecCo Kit could be used independently it fulfils maximum benefit when using it within the framework as proposed by the ProSecCo Method.
A database was organized along the three methodological frameworks. This database constitutes the structure to organise (exemplary and case based) knowledge concerning: - Process descriptions for each of the frameworks (as described in ProSecCo Method); - Specific tasks needed to perform the processes; - Knowledge required, competences applied in specific product-service system innovation projects types; - Supporting Tools and methods for the tasks in the processes; - Illustrative case materials and examples for the processes. Furthermore, the software should provide the user with: - Document management and reporting integrated and providing a day-to-day view of the current state of progress; - Chance to personalise the processes as far as possible (adapt from modules) for a particular case using the database content and a diagnose module; - Access to data to all team members to be able to share the data. ProSecCo Soft provides a flexible database structure that allows storing, searching and providing easy access to knowledge related to the ProSecCoDiagnose supporting the assessment process, the two methodological frameworks of ProSecCoMethods, the tools and specific methods of ProSecCoKIT. The software at the same time allows the creation and guidance by means of a workflow of processes to guide the users through the different processes prescribed by the methodological frameworks. The software consists of a basic layer of the flexible knowledge database where all knowledge is stored and can be stored during the execution of projects with the software. On top of this layer interface software as Front-End provides a user-friendly interface to access the database. This interface consists of the different steps prescribed by the two methodological frameworks, and furthermore will consist of the different way to access to the ProSecCo services as further explained in the exploitation strategy section. The software is therefore related to the ProSecCo Network platform too. The software is based on an ASP strategy, this means that the software will be maintained and updated by the ProSecCo NewCo that will exploit the project results (see further in the exploitation strategy section). This enables an easy access to the software and will not require any installation at the side of the user. The only requirement is a (fast) access to internet. The software could be considered as an intranet that can be personalized according to the requirements of the company, user and the processes that would be applied.
PSCD - Opportunity recognition: Strategic support package to offer development results in terms of strategic and innovation options to decide upon and go for. The main objective of the PPS OR method was to provide a checklist of activities and a certain order of doing things to help to find innovative product-service solutions. It should be highlighted that the methodology provides with concrete steps and suggestions of actions to detect an opportunity and to define the product-service solution concept. The methodology does not focus on creating the processes to manage, however, it should be considered as the process itself. The objective of the methodology is to come to a product-service solution concept. Its development and implementation would be subject of the PSCD implementation methodology explained in D5.3. Basically, OR methodology can be considered as a PPS ideas generation methodology. However, considering that innovation is not a subject of mathematics, one should not expect that the process does guarantee that great innovations are always found. The method contains two main parts: - Part: The Mind-Setting paragraph explains a certain way of thinking and other conditions needed to set the scene for the workflow and the process of defining opportunities. In order to be able to go through the process a different way of thinking is required, enabling to look at things differently. - Part: The Methodology and Process paragraphs explain the steps proposed to go through the process of opportunity detection. The steps are providing a path to organise the thinking process to get to innovative insights for product-service solutions. Both parts of the method are related and acting in parallel. The mind setting form the basis and has to be active on the background throughout all the steps of the workflow. One could see the mind settings as learning a language and reading that is needed to read the map and ask when you are on the road.
ProSecCoNETWORK is a web-based platform providing online access to a panel of international experts and consultants in the field of innovation for Product Services Development. The platform also offers a discussion and networking facility between different companies with similar problems. ProSecCoNETWORK assits the user in building up networks with complementary partner/s and helps find experts on the field, etc. The ProSecCoNetwork consists of a web based networking tool around the subject of PSCD supporting two types of networks: - A network of experts and consultants in the field of PSS development; - A network/community of companies that have challenges, experiences and other interesting knowledge in the field of PS development.
PSCD Process Implementation: Establishing an innovation process within a company, allowing an integrated, simultaneous and convergent innovation of physical products, software, services and the other existing processes within the company. In front of a more and more hard competition, any attempt to strengthen the company performances has to begin with the product-service solution, combination of physical products, software and services, offered on the market. A cost reduction and a production efficiency improvement have no value if the Product Service System (PSS) does not satisfy the customers expectations, is not available when they want it and is not reliable. So, it becomes essential to improve all the aspects of the PSS, from its definition to its market removal. PSCD Innovation Process can be defined as an approach allowing an integrated, simultaneous and convergent innovation of physical products, software, services and the processes of the company such as marketing, research, development, production and other associated processes. Its finality is to allow the different actors in the innovation process to take into account from its origin, and in a convergent way, all the phases of the life cycle of a new PSS from the idea till its market removal and this by integrating problems connected to the requirements of the different process and system protagonists. The increase of the PSS and market complexity has for consequence to grow the teams' size of the innovation process protagonists, the plurality of sights on the system to be designed and its market. It results from this an increase of the multiplicity of the systematic problems to be solved. Our PSCD approach fixes criteria to appreciate, project after project, if the performances of the innovation activity are improved or not. It allows also tracing back the failure symptoms of an innovation project to its causes. Here we already can enumerate certain number of important marks. First of all it is advisable to take into account certain essential guiding principles as for strategic decisions as for operational. These principles, such as to integrate, to capitalize and to cooperate, as well concern the organization of the innovation process as its support tools. For an effective application of a PSCD organization in the company it is also useful to consider the following success factors: - A vision of the company organization oriented on processes and projects; - A PSS innovation strategy defined, understood and shared; - A management which gets involved and which makes good decisions at the right time; - A favourable environment for the cooperation and the working forces synergy; - A focalisation on people and competences.
ProSecCoDEMO is a comprehensive documentation of the pilot implementations carried out during the ProSecCo project in the different clusters. These product/service modules could be exploited independently, however, as is explained in the exploitation strategy the strength is in exploiting them in combination thus creating a unique product/service platform solution. The ProSecCo DEMO offers case examples of the implementation pilots carried out during the ProSecCo project. As the prototype software is used for the implementation, the demo offers a free-guided tour through the ProSecCo software, showing the user how to go through the different steps of the software application. This Demo could be provided on CD to preinstall and to be able to surf off line through the ProSecCo product.
“Industrial Case Study” is all specific documentation related to an actual Product Service Co-Design-related project of an individual industrial company. Due to its depth it may contain commercially sensitive data, is hence to consider confidential by default. As evidence from practice a first market analysis has been done on the demand side starting with the analysis of some companies of the three thematic clusters in order to understand what it means product and service for them. The analysis was conducted on large companies and SMEs in order to compare different approaches to PSS. Cases were collected both from literature and from real world through interviews. Main result is that while large companies are already aware and have a formalized process for PSCD, SMEs are starting to get conscious of the relevance of the PSCD topics and in some cases they already do it implicitly. They feel the need to formalize the process of product and service integration since a large number of actors should be involved and need to be networked. To do this they need support from consultants and experts.

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