Abstract
This article focuses on the way in which engineering, as a discipline, can most effectively interact with the services sectors generally, and with service science in particular. This perspective is proposed in order to balance the relatively limited recognition of both engineering as a contributor to service science and also services as an application area for engineering developments. The article is structured as a response to a series of questions relating to the current and potential future role engineering can best support the evolving area of Service Science, Management and Engineering
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Notes
- 1.
–2005 Graduate Placement Data, Centre for Policy Studies, Monash University, Australia.
- 2.
This issue has been argued in a number of reports including: a) Taking services seriously - How policy can stimulate the ‘hidden innovation’ in the UK’s services economy, NESTA Research Report, May, 2008, b) IfM and IBM, (2008). Succeeding through Service Innovation: A Service Perspective for Education, Research, Business and Government. Cambridge, United Kingdom: University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing. ISBN: 978-1-902546-65-0, c) Science and Technology-Led Innovation in Services for Australian Industries, Report of the PMSEIC Working Group, Australia, 2008.
- 3.
See the references provided in Baines et al. (2007).
- 4.
The recently completed Service Support Solutions: Strategy and Transition [S4T] Programme coordinated by Cambridge University and funded by BAE Systems and EPSRC [2008–2009] was established specifically to examine this shift in the UK Defence industry. www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/s4t/
- 5.
Conversely, this evolution also challenges traditional manufacturers to embrace the rather foreign areas of services marketing and strategy amongst others.
- 6.
For example, statistics can be taught with service-oriented (e.g., healthcare, retail, etc.) examples in addition to agriculture and manufacturing (Ledolter and Swersey 2007)
- 7.
A two day service systems module has been run in 2008 and 2009 within the Cambridge University Engineering Department, Master of Philosophy in Integrated Systems in Manufacturing and Management.
- 8.
For example, in the USA, leading service science courses are offered by Robert H Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, Arizona State – Cary School of Business, Jenkins School of Management, NC State University.
- 9.
See for example, Department of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Manchester School of Informatics, Manchester, U.K., Information School of UC Berkeley.
- 10.
See, for example, sections on service operations and technologies within Johnson, Clark (2008).
- 11.
- 12.
It is not intended to imply here that the methods described have never been used in the service domain but more that their use is not commonplace and could be more prevalent. Also, clearly the list of methods given here is not exhaustive.
- 13.
We note that, by way of example, the UK Integrated Products and Services [IPAS] project [2005–2008] and other related projects have examined issues of use in service in the design of aircraft engines and their subcomponents.
- 14.
- 15.
For example Southampton Railway Systems Research (SR2), University of Southampton.
- 16.
For example, TINA: The Intelligent Airport, University of Cambridge, University of Leeds, University College London.
- 17.
For example, Institute for Energy Research & Policy, University of Birmingham.
- 18.
For example, Health and Care Infrastructure Research and Innovation Centre, University of Loughborough.
- 19.
Engineering issues in waste disposal are examined for example at Geoenvironmental Research Centre (GRC). This is based in the Cardiff School of Engineering, in Cardiff University, Wales UK.
- 20.
In the UK there are currently 16 EPSRC sponsored IMRCs funded between £1.5M and £14M of which ten are based in engineering departments.
- 21.
The S4T and IPAS Programmes mentioned earlier in footnotes 7 and 17 respectively are exceptions
- 22.
Key journals covering service systems development include Journal of Service Science, Journal of Service Science and Management, International Journal of Service Science.
- 23.
For example, typical development of military equipment can take over 15 years from concept to production.
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Acknowledgements
The author wishes to acknowledge the sponsorship and support of BAE Systems, the UK Royal Academy of Engineering and the University of Cambridge for their support of this work. Further, the author would like to thank the University of Melbourne and National ICT Institute, Australia in particular for their support during a sabbatical visit in 2008 when much of this work took place.
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McFarlane, D. (2011). An Engineering Perspective on Service Science. In: Demirkan, H., Spohrer, J., Krishna, V. (eds) The Science of Service Systems. Service Science: Research and Innovations in the Service Economy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8270-4_15
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