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Co-creating integrated solutions with customers requires collaboration of different partners within a value network. In this emerging context, knowledge is considered as a foundation for value co-creation. Therefore, identifying different types of issues, with which value network actors in knowledge transfer are confronted, is conceived as a first step toward, on the one hand, the prevention of the failure of knowledge exchange initiatives in a network, and on the other hand, the enhancement of the collaborative process of knowledge sharing. This requires shifting the conventional approach on knowledge transfer issues from an intra-organizational to an inter-organizational network. This paper aims to systematically identify and classify knowledge transfer issues with both tacit and explicit knowledge considerations. In doing so, we have first conducted a systematic literature review to identify issues. Secondly, these issues have been classified into six main categories and 29 subcategories through a structured classification approach. The proposed classification framework provides a comprehensive and wide spectrum of possible issues related to knowledge transfer within a value network. It also presents a step towards an improved awareness of such issues in order to resolve problems in transferring knowledge in such contexts.

The last decades have seen a remarkable evolution in customers' needs and requests. Their interest moved from purchasing the single product to receiving a prolonged support throughout the product lifecycle. In order to answer to these new requests, companies proposed a solution combining products and services called Product-Service System (PSS). In this optic, the role of service engineering grew over time. However, the supply of services not originally created for the considered product resulted into unsustainable economic positions on the companies' side and dissatisfaction on the customers' side. To prevent this situation, new methodologies considering not only the product and service design, but also their early integration, have been proposed in literature. Among these, the DIVERSITY project proposed the PSS Lean Design Methodology (PSSLDM), which considers the entire PSS lifecycle, from its conceptualization (stating form customers' needs) to the monitoring of its performance (once released on the market), in order to ameliorate its design and to identify possible future improvements. With the aim of supporting companies in exploiting the PSSLDM, the DIVERSITY design platform has been developed. The DIVERSITY platform is an aggregation of tools that cooperate to properly design a PSS. The consistency and maturity of the platform and of the tools were tested through an application case with the scope of collecting feedback and highlighting the next steps for the DIVERSITY platform implementation. This paper reports a description of the overall platform, summarizes the results obtained in the application case and proposes possible steps to improve the future platform implementation and usage

The recent years have seen an increasing interest from the companies to differentiate themselves from competitors by enriching their portfolio with new product related services. The introduction of the Product Service System (PSS) worsened the companies’ economic performance since the proposed PSSs were not designed using methodologies and tools created to make them sustainable. In order to overcome this problem, the DIVERSITY project proposes a new methodology that considers the entire product life cycle, from the identification of the customer’s need to the PSS’ conceptualization, design and market performance monitoring. This paper aims at explaining the DIVERSITY methodology and the engineering platform derived from it highlighting the characteristics and functions of each tool.

PSS development involves together, through the servitization phenomenon, both manufacturing and service workers carrying great potential to pursue industrial competitiveness, customer satisfaction and sustainable improvement. The belief is that the development level of PSS design is slowly evolving through a path strongly driven by the evolution of the technology and the progressive involvement of the industry in its application. However companies still need best practices able to improve the PSS development processes performances in a more systematic way. Lean techniques already managed to provide these procedures in a product context allowing the improvement of both product manufacturing and product development processes. The evolution of Lean to an intangible dimension also guided companies’ convergence strategy from mass production to mass customization in an efficient and effective way. For this reasons the paper aims to investigate the literature about Lean Thinking evolvement from manufacturing to design phases, as well as from product to service. On this basis, the definition of which are Lean Thinking aspects which could positively affect also PSSs Development will enable the authors to understand which are the more suitable tools to develop Lean PSS and how to provide companies best practices able to improve the PSS development processes performances in a more systematic way. This opens the way to new opportunities and challenges through many further research and industrial projects.

Recent economic transformations have forced companies to redefine their value propositions, increasing traditional product offerings with supplementary services—the so-called Product-Service System (PSS). Among them, the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies is very common. However, the directions that companies are undertaking to offer new value to their customers in the Industry 4.0 have not yet been investigated in detail. Based on a focus group, this paper contributes to this understanding by identifying the main trajectories that would shape a future scenario in which PSS and Industry 4.0 would merge. In addition, future research directions addressing (a) the transformation of the PSS value chain into a PSS ecosystem, (b) the transformation inside a single company towards becoming a PSS provider, and (c) the digital transformation of the traditional PSS business model are identified.

Purpose: To correctly define through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), diagnosis, staging and prognosis of the adductor longus (AL) acute lesions and to identify a correlation between Return to Play (RTP) and sport-related injury predisposing conditions and complications. Materials and methods: Twenty professional football players with acute groin pain and clinical suspicion of AL injury subsequent to sport's activity were evaluated. MRI examinations were performed by one and reviewed by other two radiologists with more than 10 years of experience. Lesions were stratified according to both Munich consensus statement and British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification (BAMIC). Patients were monitored until clinical recovery occurred. Results: According to the Munich consensus statement, 75% of lesions were defined as type 3 and 25%as type 4; while according to the BAMIC, 45% were considered as Grade 1, 20% as Grade 2, 10% as Grade 3, and 25% as Grade 4. RTP was 1–2 weeks for minor lesions (45%), 4–6 weeks for moderate lesions (30%), and more than 6 weeks for complete lesions (25%). Both BAMIC and Munich consensus significantly correlated with RTP (R = 0.958 and 0.974, respectively). The extent of gap was the only independent prognosticator of RTP always present in all three different models of multivariate analysis (p < 0.006, p < 0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: MRI represents the gold standard imaging technique for the evaluation of AL due to its ability not only to recognize but also to classify acute lesions and define patient's prognosis. MRI is also useful to detect potential predisposing conditions and complications, which may correlate with RTP.

Objectives: To describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of soleus muscle injuries in symptomatic professional football players stratified according to both the Munich consensus statement and the British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification (BAMIC), and to investigate the association between specific MRI features and the “return to play” (RTP). Materials and methods: Professional football players with an episode of acute posterior calf pain and impaired function, subsequent to sports activity, underwent ultrasound followed by MRI examination reviewed by two different radiologists with more than 10years of experience in the musculoskeletal system. MRI features and RTP outcome were evaluated for all types of injuries. Results: During a 36-month period, a total of 20 professional football players were evaluated. According to the Munich consensus, 11 were type 3A, 8 were type 3B, and 1 was type 4, whereas according to the BAMIC, 11 lesions were considered grade 1, 4 grade 2, 4 grade 3, and 1 grade 4. RTP data were available for all patients (mean 3.3±1.6weeks). Both the Munich consensus and the BAMIC correlated with RTP (Spearman correlation=0.982 and p&nbsp

Modern companies face immense market pressure to meet customers’ demands while ensuring the sustainability of business. Consumers are now requesting highly customized products and services, i.e. demanding mass customization from manufacturing companies. The complete value chain needs to develop strategies enabling interaction with customers and consumers, supporting customization of features and services, and even co-design. This paper presents the DIVERSITY approach, which consists on a methodology and engineering environment supporting companies in using social media to realize a context sensitive lean design process of product service systems.