Digital transformation in the manufacturing industry : business models and smart service systems

The digital transformation enables innovative business models and smart services, i.e. individual services that are based on data analyses in real-time as well as information and communications technology. Smart services are not only a theoretical construct but are also highly relevant in practice. Nine research questions are answered, all related to aspects of smart services and corresponding business models. The dissertation proceeds from a general overview, over the topic of installed base management as precondition for many smart services in the manufacturing industry, towards exemplary applications in form of predictive maintenance activities. A comprehensive overview is provided about smart service research and research gaps are presented that are not yet closed. It is shown how a business model can be developed in practice. A closer look is taken on installed base management. Installed base data combined with condition monitoring data leads to digital twins, i.e. dynamic models of machines including all components, their current conditions, applications and interaction with the environment. Design principles for an information architecture for installed base management and its application within a use case in the manufacturing industry indicate how digital twins can be structured. In this context, predictive maintenance services are taken for the purpose of concretization. It is looked at state oriented maintenance planning and optimized spare parts inventory as exemplary approaches for smart services that contribute to high machine availability. Taxonomy of predictive maintenance business models shows their diversity. It is viewed on the named topics both from theoretical and practical viewpoints, focusing on the manufacturing industry. Established research methods are used to ensure academic rigor. Practical problems are considered to guarantee practical relevance. A research project as background and the resulting collaboration with different experts from several companies also contribute to that. The dissertation provides a comprehensive overview of smart service topics and innovative business models for the manufacturing industry, enabled by the digital transformation. It contributes to a better understanding of smart services in theory and practice and emphasizes the importance of innovative business models in the manufacturing industry

An analysis of the extent to which English Second Language teacher educators are implementing learner-centred teaching and learning: a case study

The primary learning environment for undergraduate students, the fairly passive lecture-discussion format where teacher educators talk and most students listen, is contrary to almost every principle of an optimal student learning setting. The current view in higher education is that teacher educators need to focus on student learning rather than on teaching. One of the challenges in moving a university, and in this case specifically a Faculty of Education Sciences, toward learner-centredness is to help teacher educators understand what learnercentredness means and to help them overcome implementation barriers. The purpose in this article was to a) determine the nature and scope of English Second Language (ESL) teacher educators' tasks at a tertiary institution, b) determine the extent to which ESL teacher educators are implementing a learner-centred approach to teaching and learning, c) identify the factors, if any, that impede the transition to a learner-centred approach to teaching and learning, and d) provide recommendations to facilitate the implementation of a learner-centred approach to teaching and learning within a faculty of education sciences. South African Journal of Education Vol.24(4) 2004: 295-30

An analysis of ESL teacher educators' current assessment practices

Assessment should provide a catalyst for student learning and for reflective teaching practices. Fundamental to the development of appropriate assessment must be a direct link between what is being "taught" and what is being "learned". Assessment is not an end in itself but a vehicle for educational improvement, and should be a fundamental and integral part of any curriculum based on student learning outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to analyse and identify any shortcomings in the current assessment practices of English Second Language teacher educators at a tertiary institution, and to provide recommendations for improving teacher educators', at tertiary institutions, assessment practices. The results indicated a mechanistic additive assessment approach, and a misalignment between teaching, learning and assessment. Key Words: ESL; assessment; learning outcomes Journal for Language Teaching Vol.38(1) 2004: 26-4

Towards a Smart Services Enabling Information Architecture for Installed Base Management in Manufacturing

In the manufacturing industry the provision of smart services is an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage. As there are high demands on machine availability, smart services in the field of installed base management are important. Through integrating condition monitoring data with installed base data a digital twin of the installed base can be created. This enables comprehensive analyses and the provision of individualized smart services. But this requires to structure and standardize the data. Following the action design research (ADR) approach, in this article design principles of an information architecture are developed. The architecture is evaluated and improved in the context of an international engineering and manufacturing company. A test run with real machine data shows the applicability in practice

Predictive maintenance as an internet of things enabled business model : A taxonomy

Predictive maintenance (PdM) is an important application of the Internet of Things (IoT) discussed in many companies, especially in the manufacturing industry. PdM uses data, usually sensor data, to optimize maintenance activities. We develop a taxonomy to classify PdM business models that enables a comparison and analysis of such models. We use our taxonomy to classify the business models of 113 companies. Based on this classification, we identify six archetypes using cluster analysis and discuss the results. The “hardware development”, “analytics provider”, and “all-in-one” archetypes are the most frequently represented in the study sample. For cluster analysis, we use a visualization technique that involves an autoencoder. The results of our analysis will help practitioners assess their own business models and those of other companies. Business models can be better differentiated by considering the different levels of IoT architecture, which is also an important implication for further research. © 2020, The Author(s)

Modeling Framework for Integrated, Model-based Development of Product-Service Systems

Product-service systems (PSS) are seen as the 21st-century solution for direct delivery of value to customers under the requirements of high availability, quality, and reduced risks. With mutual benefits for customers, manufacturers, service providers and often the environment, PSS represent a promising approach to sustainable development. This paper addresses the integrated development of product-service systems consisting of physical products/systems and services and proposes an integrated modeling framework that utilizes the Systems Modeling Language. A use case from Lenze, a German automation company, demonstrates the applicability of the integrated modeling framework in practice

Disease severity, activities of daily living and exercise capacity in patients with chronic pulmonary disease

Chronic Pulmonary Disease (CPD) often causes a reduction in physical activity and lower limb dysfunction. This study determined combined and individual contributions of measures of activity of daily living (type and volume) and FEV1 to arm and leg ergometry ability of CPD patients. The 44 patients with mild to very severe airflow obstruction (mean FEV1% predicted=54.64±18.27) consisted of 16 males and 28 females (mean age=59.80±11.92yrs). All participants completed spirometry, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and were graded for pulmonary disease severity using the Medical Research Council degree of breathlessness scale. Additional assessments included Physical Activity of Daily Living (PADL), body composition, sub-maximal arm and leg ergometry, grip strength and isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring strength and endurance. The t-test, ANOVA and partial correlations were conducted. Total upper body and lower body physical activity showed no statistically significant relationships with measures of peripheral muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness. Leg strength contributed more to arm and leg ergometry ability than measures of physical activity. This study highlights the importance of assessing upper and lower limb strength in patients with CPD and endorses the incorporation of specified lower limb strength training in rehabilitation programmes, especially for those with reduced strength and physical activity levels.Keywords: Chronic pulmonary disease; Activities of daily living; Arm and leg strength; Arm and leg ergometr

Does intensity of physical activity moderate interrelationships among fitness, physical activity and health?

The aim of this study was to determine whether perceived intensity of training moderates the physical   activity-health, physical activity-fitness, and fitness-health relationships. The participants (N=237) from  eight different companies were assessed for participation in physical activity, cardiovascular fitness and  health. Fasting blood samples, resting heart rate and blood pressure, as well as body composition  measurements were taken. The YMCA three-stage cycle ergometer test was conducted and the ACSM  (2010) metabolic and multi-stage equations were utilised to calculate functional capacity in METs.  Physical activity was measured with two questionnaires (Sharkey index and Baecke questionnaire), that allows for comparison of relative intensity of training with absolute physical activity scores. ANCOVA and Stepwise Multiple Regression analyses were used to assess the relationships of perceived intensity of  training and functional capacity with various measures of health. Perceived intensity of training had  marginally moderating effects on physical activity-health (F=1.135; Eta2=1.7% versus F=0.228; Eta2=0.4%) and the physical activity-fitness (F=8.5; Eta2=8.5% versus F=2.35; Eta2=2.5%) relationships. Cardiovascular fitness (MET) contributed 9.5% (p=0.002) to the variance of a composite health score in comparison to the nonsignificant (p=0.470), 1.2% contribution of intensity of training. Key words: Perceived intensity of training; Cardiovascular fitness;  Coronary risk; Metabolic syndrome; Health

Focusing the customer through smart services: a literature review

Smart services serve customers and their individual, continuously changing needs; information and communications technology enables such services. The interactions between customers and service providers form the basis for co-created value. A growing interest in smart services has been reported in the literature in recent years. However, a categorization of the literature and relevant research fields is still missing. This article presents a structured literature search in which 109 relevant publications were identified. The publications are clustered in 13 topics and across five phases of the lifecycle of a smart service. The status quo is analyzed, and a heat map is created that graphically shows the research intensity in various dimensions. The results show that there is diverse knowledge related to the various topics associated with smart services. One finding suggests that economic aspects such as new business models or pricing strategies are rarely considered in the literature. Additionally, the customer plays a minor role in IS publications. Machine learning and knowledge management are identified as promising fields that should be the focus of further research and practical applications. Concrete ideas for future research are presented and discussed and will contribute to academic knowledge. Addressing the identified research gaps can help practitioners successfully provide smart services