Summary

T-REX will promote integrated product-service solutions: A shift from value in exchange to value in use to satisfy customer needs. In this new landscape, manufacturers do not sell a physical product, but its usage (renting, pay-x-use) or its outcome (pay-x-performance). Companies and supply network should focus on reducing the Life Cycle Cost of the Product-Service Systems and extending their lifecycle in order to maximize profits, but also to increase customer utility and the lifecycle value of their offerings. Different levers will be considered for this to happen:

• A Business Model suited for the new landscape that changes the way products are offered and customer relationships managed;

Product design techniques to extend the lifecycle, to foster upgrading and renovation, and to support serviceability;

Service design methods to develop new services consistent with the business models and re-engineering existing services;

• Integrated local Condition Monitoring capacities and tools for Asset Health Management, customizable to the industry requirements;

Three practical demonstrators in the transportation (forklift trucks), machine tools and robot systems domains will be experimented. Demonstrators are meant to show that the new business platform can achieve a re-use of 55-70%, a lifecycle extension in the range of 25-30%, and a reduction of maintenace service costs by 15-30% and 25-30% on Life Cycle Costs. 

Introduction

Integrated product-service solutions or Product-Service Systems promote a shift from value in exchange to value in use to satisfy customer needs. In this new landscape, manufacturers do not sell a physical product, but its usage (renting, pay-x-use) or its outcome (pay-x-performance).

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Industrial objectives

The aim for T-REX is to give support for the transition, in the capital goods industries, from the "traditional" business models to the "new" business model. This objective will be achieved by developing and experimenting conceptual tools, under a triple perspective, i.e. transportation (forklift trucks), machine tools and robot solutions domains. T-REX will develop:

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Problem statement and motivation

There is a limited diffusion of new business models, especially by SMEs, and in particular in the sectors of interest of this project. More often than not capital goods manufacturers act as pure suppliers of pieces of equipment, while they neglect the opportunities stemming from a more service-oriented approach. Thus, they tend to lose control over their installed base in field, and fail to achieve the customer intimacy that is quintessential to devise and offer customized products and services.

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Scientific and Technological objectives

The S/T objective of the project is to develop and prototype, through three business application cases, a business platform for the offering of capital goods whose main elements are:

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