Evaluation of PSS concepts for successful shift from product to PSS: An approach based on AHP and niche theory

The shift from product to product-service system(PSS) is highlighted as a prevailing trend for sustainability in the manufacturing industry. For a successful shift, the superiority of PSS to customers over product should be distinctly identified. This study defines the superiority index of PSS concept over product, which is computed with the relative importance of value quantified by AHP and the relative superiority in niche gratification based on the niche theory. At this time, classification of value into three types related with transferring from product to PSS is considered as the conceptual framework of the proposed approach. As a relative evaluation method of PSS concepts in a customers' view dealing with many heterogeneous values that remains a void in the previous studies, the proposed approach is expected to effectively aid manufacturers who adopt PSS to systematically evaluate PSS concepts understanding the gains and losses according to the shift from product to PSS.