Enhancing knowledge management in the PSS detailed design: a case study in a food and bakery machinery company

Most methodologies developed to support the Product-Service System (PSS) design consider the integration of service features into the product design from a high-level of abstraction and are usually focused on the conceptual phase, neglecting the detailed level of design. Besides, the Knowledge Management perspective is not considered in those methodologies, also affecting how new design knowledge is created, formalized, and shared across the company’s organization. The PSS Design GuRu Methodology, grounded on Concurrent Engineering and Design for X approaches, was developed to fill these issues. This study presents how the PSS Design GuRu Methodology can be incorporated into a PSS detailed design process in a B2B company operating in the food and bakery machinery sector, focusing the analysis on its contribution to promoting Knowledge Management. In particular, a detailed case of development and integration of a service feature—the installation service—to a product in the PSS scope is conducted. The PSS Design GuRu Methodology proves to be effective in supporting the generation, management, use, sharing, and reuse of new knowledge in the shape of design guidelines and rules.