Supply Chain Interactions in Smart Sustainable Product-Service Systems

Abstract

Smart sustainable product-service systems (SPSS) are innovative frameworks that integrate physical products with services to promote sustainability. These systems aim to enhance resource efficiency, minimize waste, and maximize value by integrating smart technologies with sustainable practices. However, implementing smart SPSS is not limited to manufacturers but also involves other supply chain actors. This study employs a socio-technical systems (STS) framework to comprehensively understand how social, technological, and organizational elements interact within the broader supply chain context to influence smart SPSS. The research identifies three primary supply chain interactions in smart SPSS: technology integration and data exchange, collaborative planning and development, and resource optimization. Such interactions involve actors such as technology suppliers, component/material suppliers, service providers, regulatory bodies, and customers, whose coordinated efforts are essential for achieving sustainability. By identifying and detailing these various interactions, the study provides a more comprehensive understanding of how sustainability is achieved through coordinated efforts among different actors within the supply chain. The study suggests seven key topics to advance understanding supply chain interactions in smart SPSS.