Title: Mobile apps for providing product-service systems and retrieving feedback throughout their lifecycle: a robotics use case

Authors: Dimitris Mourtzis; Ekaterini Vlachou; Vasilios Zogopoulos

Addresses: Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation (LMS), Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, Rio Patras 26500, Greece ' Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation (LMS), Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, Rio Patras 26500, Greece ' Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation (LMS), Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, Rio Patras 26500, Greece

Abstract: In an era when the usage of mobile devices is expanding, it is important for product services to also follow this path. The connectivity and the fast and seamless data exchange supported by modern networks allows companies to come closer to their customers and provide a set of product services that improve product experience and provide meaningful feedback throughout product's lifecycle. Towards that direction, this research work presents the combined use of an augmented reality maintenance support service and a product service feedback gathering mobile application connected through a cloud database. A product lifecycle management tool is also used to store and analyse the data from the feedback tool. The developed apps aim to support manufacturing companies to provide added value solutions and evaluate them also during their lifecycle. The developed system is validated in a case study from the robotics industry.

Keywords: product-service systems; PSS; mobile applications; design; customer feedback; remote maintenance; robotics industry; lifecycle management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2018.092821

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2018 Vol.11 No.2, pp.116 - 130

Received: 01 Jun 2017
Accepted: 30 Sep 2017
Published online: 30 Jun 2018 *

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