Development and Changes in the Industrial Product Service Systems – A Case Study of the Photocopier PSS

Abstract

This paper presents the development and changes in the photocopier product service system (PSS). The photocopier PSS is the repsentative example of PSSs. The original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have been oriented to selling the function rather than the product from the inception of the industry. This paper highlights three issues. First, the OEMs’ efforts to increase the productivity of the service are presented. The companies have been making continuous efforts to increase the efficiency and quality of the PSS. Second, recent trends of the business model in the industry is described. A new business model called managed print services (MPS) has emerged. Its influence on the industry is argued. Third, recent situations of the product remanufacturing of photocopiers are described. Based on these observations, implications of the case on PSS in general are discussed.