1. Introduction

1. Background

A product/service system (PSS) can be defined as a mixture of tangible products and intangible services that are designed and combined so that they jointly are capable of fulfilling customer needs

^[1]

. PSSs have been heralded as one of the most effective instruments for moving society towards a resource-efficient, circular economy

^[2]

, and researched in several domains such as engineering design and environmental sustainability

^[3][4][5]

. Customization targeting different segments is widely seen in industry, and even a question of its environmental consequences has been asked

^[6]

. However, increasing variety does not always lead to enhanced performance: increased variety leads to increased complexity and then may end up with decreased competitiveness. To avoid this situation, it is effective to holistically customize a whole group of various offerings: family design 

^[7][8] is a major means to this end aiming to answer the question on the customization degree.

is a major means to this end aiming to answer the question on the customization degree.

2. Definition

PSS family design is a kind of designing a group of PSSs in order to provide the PSSs efficiently to a defined set of multiple customer segments.

3. Introduction 

PSS family design was proposed by an article 

^[9]

in 2020 with its origin being product family design, which is a powerful means to product customization. Customization has been researched for products, services and PSSs; see a review

^[10]

. A breakthrough was made by introducing PSS into family design and thereby taking an advantage of the features of PSS design such as exchangeability

^[11] (see Fig. 1). It is at present expected that PSS providers strategically apply PSS family design to their PSSs for enhanced efficiency and competitiveness.

. It is at present expected that PSS providers strategically apply PSS family design to their PSSs for enhanced efficiency and competitiveness.

4. Data, Model and Impact

Figure 1. A schematic presentation of exchangeability between a product and a service

2. Data, Model and Impact

A model for PSSs is in principle applicable to further develop a model for a PSS family. A process of designing also needs to be defined for specific PSS family design. PSS family design is expected to involve high complexity, and hence computer support is powerful. In the article

A model for PSSs is in principle applicable to further develop a model for a PSS family. A process of designing also needs to be defined for specific PSS family design. PSS family design is expected to involve high complexity, and hence computer support is powerful. In the article

^[9]

, a PSS model 

^[12][13] was extended  (see Fig. 2), a design process based on lean principles (especially, removing

was extended, a design process based on lean principles (especially, removing

muda

,

mura

and

muri) was adopted  (see Fig. 3), and computer software named Service Explorer 

) was adopted, and computer software named Service Explorer 

^[14] was built upon  (see Fig. 4). PSS design as such is challenging but can be used as a competitive advantage

was built upon. PSS design as such is challenging but can be used as a competitive advantage

^[15]. PSS family design will strengthen PSS design and thus have a major impact on industry, especially if used in an early stage of design or research and development.

Figure 2. A model for a product/service system (PSS) family ^[9]

Figure 3. A PSS family design based on lean principles ^[9] 

Figure 4. An extended version of Service Explorer ^[9]  

. PSS family design will strengthen PSS design and thus have a major impact on industry, especially if used in an early stage of design or research and development.