Title: Stakeholders in the middle of life of complex products: understanding the role and information needs

Authors: Elaheh Gholamzadeh Nabati; Klaus-Dieter Thoben; Morice Daudi

Addresses: International Graduate School for Dynamics in Logistics, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany ' BIBA – Bremer Institute für Produktion und Logistik GmbH, Bremen, Germany; Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Badgasteiner Straße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany ' International Graduate School for Dynamics in Logistics, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany

Abstract: Middle of life (MOL) of complex engineering products involves various groups of stakeholders. Products are getting smarter. Furthermore, there is a trend to offer complex engineering products in combination with services. This trend changes current roles of stakeholders in MOL and enables new ones. Existing literature so far lacks a systematic and extensive analysis of the stakeholders within MOL. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to identify stakeholders in MOL; identify and model relationships among the stakeholders; identify data and information needs of stakeholders and propose appropriate techniques for data analytics to support accomplishment of stakeholders' needs. These objectives are realised by conducting literature survey and interviews. This research focuses on two case studies: offshore wind turbines and commercial airplanes. The paper achieves a systematic perspective on potential stakeholders of MOL and their relationships. Moreover, it proposes supporting approaches for data analytics to satisfy information needs of the stakeholders.

Keywords: stakeholder; closed-loop product lifecycle management; middle of the life; smart products; product-service systems; PSS; data analytics; complex engineering products; information needs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2017.087570

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2017 Vol.10 No.3, pp.231 - 257

Received: 04 Mar 2017
Accepted: 14 Jun 2017
Published online: 19 Oct 2017 *

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