Servitization of manufacturing industries based on cloud-based business model and the down-to-earth implementary path

Servitization of manufacturing industries (SMI) is emerging as a new trend all around the world, especially in major manufacturing nations, e.g., USA, Germany, and China, which is believed to be able to upgrade the industry chains and improve the economy. Almost simultaneously, cloud manufacturing (CM) is being generally debated within the academic field as a new manufacturing paradigm. However, little attention was paid to implementing SMI based on cloud-based business model. This paper aims to discuss the ways to make SMI possible through cloud-based manufacturing business model (CMBM) and relevant enabling technologies including CM. Specifically, this paper (1) presents the key elements that motivate SMI and the full definition of SMI; (2) proposes a description of CMBM matching up with the execution of SMI; (3) provides some constructive advices, namely the down-to-earth path, with technology aspects included for the government and enterprises to carry out SMI based on CMBM; and (4) offers a case study related to successful SMI based on CMBM.