Smart PSS Case Study: Collaborative Configuration of Automated Guided Vehicle PSS Solution and Its Supplier Selection Considering Sustainability

To validate the theoretical framework proposed in the preceding chapters, this chapter examines the practical application of the methodology encompassing needs assessment, modularization, and co-configuration. Specifically, the study takes the example of an Automated Guided Vehicle–based Smart Product-Service System (AGV-Smart PSS) within a warehousing scenario. The AGV-Smart PSS case is selected to represent a complex yet representative example of Smart PSS in industrial practice, integrating advanced physical components and service-oriented functionalities. By applying the proposed framework to this real-world context, the chapter tests the robustness of the theoretical constructs and demonstrates the methodology’s adaptability to dynamic and service-intensive environments. Through the systematic implementation of needs assessment, modularization, and co-configuration, the chapter illustrates how customer requirements can be effectively elicited, transformed into modular design elements, and subsequently co-configured into viable product-service solutions in collaboration with suppliers and stakeholders. The application further highlights how integrating these steps contributes to enhanced flexibility, scalability, and sustainability in the Smart PSS lifecycle.