Robomove game inspires machine builders on circular business
A new game, Robomove, puts SMEs in mechanical engineering on the road to making the transition to circular enterprise themselves. The game combines the learnings from the living lab Circular Machine Building, a project supported by VLAIO.
With Designregio Kortrijk, we ensured smooth project management.
Mechanical engineering in Flanders scores strongly in terms of added value, employment and exports, but at the same time has one of the highest material footprints within the Flemish manufacturing industry. Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) business models can offer a solution. In that model, the manufacturer retains ownership of the machine; it only invoices the use of the machine and retrieves it from the customer afterwards.
Applying PaaS models among machine builders, and SMEs in particular, often turns out to be a step too far. With the living lab Circular Machine Building, supported by VLAIO, the project partners Designregio Kortrijk, Sirris and Voka - Kamer van Koophandel West-Vlaanderen wanted to offer machine builders an environment in which they could test PaaS mode through the methodology of design thinking. The participating companies Vintiv, Cyago, Eliet and 3D Tools experimented, tested and worked out the model. They were able to call on experts and regularly exchanged ideas and tips.
The results of the project were not - as usual - summarised in an article and infosessions, but were turned into a practical and inspiring business game: Robomove. The game, a development in cooperation with DAE Studios, brings together the general learning lessons and experiences of the participants.
The aim of the business game is to provide interested machine builders with some flashing lights; focal points that are crucial to the PaaS service business.
