Title: Degree of service-orientation in the pulp and paper industry

Authors: Nina Davidsson, Bo Edvardsson, Anders Gustafsson, Lars Witell

Addresses: Service Research Center, Karlstad University, Karlstad SE-651 88, Sweden. ' Service Research Center, Karlstad University, Karlstad SE-651 88, Sweden. ' Service Research Center, Karlstad University, Karlstad SE-651 88, Sweden. ' Service Research Center, Karlstad University, Karlstad SE-651 88, Sweden

Abstract: Many companies in the process industries are seeing the advantages of services but are struggling with the changes these require as regards the offering and the organisation. This paper presents an empirical investigation within the pulp and paper industry based on a survey of Swedish manufacturing firms and a multiple case study of three case companies and their customers. To investigate whether the manufacturers active in this industry are product-oriented or are becoming more service-oriented, five themes important to the companies under study are presented and discussed: that is, finding the right mix of physical products and services, the concept of service, business models, technology-based services and organising service delivery.

Keywords: industrial services; value creation; service orientation; services management; pulp and paper industry; process industries; manufacturing firms; Sweden; business models; technology-based services; service delivery.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2009.022380

International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.11 No.1, pp.24 - 41

Published online: 02 Jan 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article