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Background
Leading-edge companies are now starting to integrate services into the
solutions development process, whilst others are
'adding value'
through, for example, various types of after-sales services, maintenance
or training. These companies are
recognising that the addition of services to products may drive innovative
customer-focused solutions which differentiate
from competitors especailly in saturated markets. This means that product
development is changing, as in reality many
intangible services now include physical products and visa versa which
means that many solutions now include varying
proportions of products or services. Some term this Product-Service-Systems
(PSS) and the main categories can be
defined as:
| * |
Product-oriented
services eg service integration (adding products or functionality),
product extension (providing upgrades, maintenance) |
| * |
Use-oriented
service (product owned by the service provider who sells the function
not the product) eg leasing and rental |
| * |
Result-oriented
service eg product substituting service (eg virtual answering service
replacing answering machine, web- based information replacing directories),
vertical integration (eg production transferred to user) |
Throughout the nineties
there has been considerable discussion that PSS leads to sustainability
benefits (financial, social
and environmental) - however, this is still unclear due to a lack of research
and concrete examples. Against this background,
seven research institutes (TNO-STB, VITO, INETI, econcept, CfSD, TNO Industry/Kathalys,
and O2 Global Network) and
some 25 companies took the initiative to set up a Thematic Network in
this field, called SusProNet (www.suspronet.org).
SusProNet has been funded by the European Commision (EC) to explore and
help define the 'state of the art' in PSS and
will organise two major conferences in 2003 and 2004 to increase networking
and knowledge in this area. SusProNet serves
also as the central node in a project cluster in which six other major
EU-funded projects on PSS participate.
Concept
SusProNet will be launched at a prestigeous two day international conference
that and will bring together leading-edge thinkers
and practioners to discuss the 'state in the art' of PSS. The event will
include a range of invited speakers from business,
government and academia and will also include a refereed section that
will include high quality papers covering new PSS
research and thinking. There will also be presentations of company best
practice and facilitated workshops related to five core
areas discerned in SusProNet: information and communications technologies;
offices; materials and chemicals; food and health;
and households. Finally, the conference will be used as a platform to
present the key ongoing EU-funded research projects in this
field.
Benefits
to delegates
* Free event
* Networking with business, government and academia
* Showcase
of European best practice on PSS
* One stop shop for information on PSS
* Access to leading-edge PSS research and thinking
PSS
clearinghouse
Tables will be provided for delegates to display PSS research and project
information. There will be no charge for this service.
Conference
programme
The conference is divided into four innovative sessions over two days,
which includes presentations and case studies from leading-edge speakers,
as well as a range of workshop discussion facilitated by PSS experts.
Session A,
5 June, Morning: PSS: Four Perspectives
There will be an introduction to PSS by four keynote speakers:
Clive Grinyer,
Director, Customer Experience, Orange, UK
Tom Votta, Deputy Director, Chemical Strategies Partnership (US),
Alexander Grablowitz, Sustainability
Coordinator, BMBF: Federal Ministry: Research & Education, (Germany)
Roberto Ferrigno, Policy Director, European Environmental Bureau (Belgium).
Session B: 5 June, Afternoon: PSS: Company Best Practice and Research
Cases will be presented by SusProNet member companies: Apetito;
Interface; and Hewlett Packard (tbc). This will then be followed by five
parallel sessions where conference delegates and twenty-five SusProNet
industry members discuss examples of best practice and future research
needs.
Session C:
6 June, Morning: PSS: Research
Five parallel sessions will present leading-edge research and projects
related PSS.
* PSS development in networks of firms
* Methodologies and tools for individual firms
* Support infrastructure
* The relation between PSS and sustainability
* Policy dimensions
This includes:
* Ten invited presentations from all major EU-funded projects on PSS
* Five other invited presentations from leading-edge thinkers on PSS from
Europe and Japan
* Fifteen presentations selected via a call for papers.
Session D:
6 June, Afternoon: Visions on sustainable PSS
SusProNet consists of work programmes related to five need areas/sectors:
Materials and chemicals; Office/workspace;
Households; Information/communication; and Food and retail. In five parallel
sessions each SusProNet work programme leader and SusProNet business partners
will present results of R&D to date and will develop with delegates
a vision of PSS opportunities in each need area, and how these contribute
to sustainability.
Venue
Sustainable Product-Service-Systems: 'state of the art' will be
held at the De Rode Hoed, Amsterdam, Netherlands (http://www.rodehoed.nl).
De Rode Hoed is a converted church and has a unique ambiance.
Contact details:
De Rode Hoed
Keizersgracht 102
1015 CV Amsterdam
Netherlands
Tel 00 31 20
638 56 06
Fax 00 31 20 625 44 52
Email exploitatie@rodehoed.nl
Map of location
Conference fees
The conference is free of charge and includes all conference documentation,
food and drinks.
Registration
To register
for the event either faxback your registration form to Russ White on 00
44 1252 892747 or send full contact details by email to rwhite@surrart.ac.uk
Downloadable doc: Registration form
Contacts
For more information on Sustainable Product-Service-Systems: 'state of
the art'
Professor Martin Charter
Director
The Centre for Sustainable Design
Surrey Institute of Art & Design, University College
Tel 00 44 1252
892772
Fax 00 44 1252 892747
Email mcharter@surrart.ac.uk
Dr Arnold Tukker
Project Manager
SusProNet
TNO
Tel 00 31 15
269 5450
Fax 00 31 15 269 5460
Email tukker@stb.tno.nl
Useful
PSS websites
Thematic
Network on Sustainable Product-Services (SusProNet)
http://www.suspronet.org
Sustainable Services & Systems: Trainisition towards sustainability?
http://www.cfsd.org.uk/events/tspd6
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Last updated: 17th February
2003
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Sustainable
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