TraPSS methodology – a smart solution for manufacturing SMEs

Abstract

Manufacturing SMEs are under high pressure coming from the market and from environmental legislation. They need the ability to rapidly and effectively change the business in response to opportunities and threats from the external environment, and to create and shape their own future through innovation. Product-Service System (PSS) is such an innovative concept. When competition on the basis of price, time, quality, flexibility or environment has become insufficient for the success of a company, the adoption of a PSS business model can have a beneficial impact on company competitiveness. However, the shift from product to product-service is a major strategic decision which has large implications on all the aspects of the business model. This paper proposes the TraPSS (Transition along the PSS route) methodology to define the PSS route and to support SMEs on the transition along the PSS route. Results from four SME case studies are discussed.