Hybrid simulation modelling as a supporting tool for sustainable product service systems: a critical analysis
Authored by Alice Rondini, Fabiana Tornese, Maria Grazia Gnoni, Giuditta Pezzotta, Roberto Pinto
Date Published: 2017
DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2017.1330569
Sponsors:
No sponsors listed
Platforms:
AnyLogic
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Flow charts
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
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Abstract
Manufacturing companies are increasingly shifting their value
proposition from a product-centric perspective to Product-Service-System
(PSS). This evolution allows companies to improve the customisation of
their offer and to contribute to reduce material flows and consumption,
thus enhancing sustainability. However, when companies introduce PSS
offers, they have to face higher complexity and dynamism, as customer
behaviours, process requirements and sustainability assessment must be
considered during the design and the development of the new solutions.
In this paper, after the identification of the main PSS dynamic
features, the authors argue that business process simulation (BPS) could
represent an effective tool to cope with the dynamics and the complexity
entailed in a sustainable PSS. This paper analyses and compares existing
BPS approaches identifying the hybrid simulation (HS) modelling as a
promising approach. In fact, according to the critical PSS features, HS
allows grasping PSS features and integrating customer, company and
environmental sustainability perspectives into the model, thus,
supporting effective PSS design and assessment. These findings have been
validated in a test case where a hybrid model (integrating Discrete
Event Simulation with Agent-Based Modelling) has been compared against a
pure DES model. The results highlight the advantages of the hybrid
modelling approach with respect to DES in supporting the engineering of
a sustainable, customer-oriented PSS provision process.
Tags
Simulation
behavior
Design
Management
Sustainability
Discrete-event simulation
Business models
hybrid modelling
Framework
Challenges
Industry
Delivery
Pss design
Pss assessment
Dynamics approach