Springer Servitization in Industry

This book summarizes the “interim result” of the servitization activities in manufacturing industries. While the early literature on servitization tended to stress only its advantages, more recently, scholars have also started to refer to the challenges associated with servitization. This book attempts to give a balanced picture of servitization. The book is structured in four parts: Part I introduces the topic by presenting the most recent academic discussion about servitization and uses an empirical analysis to show the degree of servitization across Europe. The results of this analysis are then compared to the discussion in the literature. This comparison highlights the existing discrepancies between the rather euphoric literature and the more skeptical practical experience. The second and third parts attempt to explain these discrepancies by taking as a starting point the assumption that servitization recommendations have to consider the heterogeneity of the manufacturing sector and the capabilities of the provider. Part II presents articles which analyze the specific characteristics of different sectors with their barriers and potentials and presents frameworks for a successful servitization of the core sectors in European manufacturing industries which include, e.g. aeronautics, automotive, ICT, chemical industries, pulp and paper industries and different engineering sectors. Part III focuses on companies’ capabilities which are necessary for successful servitization. These include strategic management, marketing, organization, innovation, engineering, human resources, controlling, quality and networks. All the contributions in parts II and III add up to a detailed picture of servitization for sectors and functions and indicate the practical implications for enterprises in manufacturing industries. The fourth part concludes the book with a chapter summarizing the findings and giving an outlook of servitization in manufacturing industries, its challenges and future developments. From the Back Cover Presenting both a comprehensive collection of sectorial studies of servitization in manufacturing industries, on the one hand, and research investigating the necessity to adapt various processes and departments of manufacturing companies to servitized business models, on the other, ‘Servitization in Industry’ informs the scientific and managerial servitization debate with recent data regarding industrial servitization models. This book provides detailed analyses of manufacturing sectors that elucidate the options and barriers related to servitization from a sector-based perspective. This sector-based approach allows for an individual and in-depth examination of recent relationships among manufacturers and their clients by explaining leads and lags in servitization. Serving to maximize reader insight into the specific characteristics of different sectors with their barriers and potentials, the book presents frameworks for successful servitization of the core sectors in European manufacturing industries which include: aeronautics; automotive, ICT, chemical industries and different engineering sectors, amongst others. The detailed picture of servitization needs for adapting processes and departments of manufacturers indicates the practical implications for enterprises intending to servitize. A series of questions are addressed from the perspective of strategic management, marketing, accounting and innovation centers by pooling and summarizing key findings. About the Author Gunter Lay was born in 1951 and studied business administration at the University of Mannheim, focusing on the topics of “Organization” and “Personnel”. After obtaining his degree, he worked for two years as a scientific researcher with Professor Gaugler (University of Mannheim). In 1978, he started working at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, in Karlsruhe, where he developed the field of “Innovati