Product-Service System in inventory control: A new paradigm?

Abstract

Manufacturing organisations are facing new challenges as competition has become global. Manufacturing industry continues moreover to make manufacturing in production variance more flexible and responsive by looking deeper and more critically into all aspects of its operation. A Product-Service System (PSS) embraces the product and service continuum as one system. Little is known about where the boundaries of PSS should lie as it needs to integrate both external and internal elements in managing inventory control within a turbulent environment in which are major dominant costs include many areas of uncertainty related to the condition, maintenance and replacement of product components. A new improved inventory control system is called for that deals with manufacturers' core operational activities in a more realistic manner. This research is focused on investigating the value and validity of introducing a PSS inventory control system. The research will led to a new approach for dealing with inventory control and contributes not only to understanding of the PSS paradigm in manufacturing industries but will also impact on their sales and profits.