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Thesis Work - Supporting Operators to Reduce Downtime Through Workstation Design

Thesis Worker at Volvo Cars
Welcome to explore the world of Volvo Cars by writing your thesis with us! As a thesis worker in our organization you are supported by a supervisor who follows you during your project. Through your thesis work you will be able to contribute to our company purpose – providing freedom to move in a safe, sustainable and personal way – from day one! 

About this opportunity - Background

This thesis will be conducted in collaboration with Body in White (BIW)—the body shop area where we assemble the vehicle’s body structure before paint. BIW combines highly automated joining technologies (e.g., spot welding, laser welding, adhesive bonding, hemming, riveting) with manual operations.

 
In today’s production environment, robots and automated systems work alongside manual tasks. In cases where a human operator is decided upon, there are currently technical supports available to help the operator perform as well as possible. The design and management of workstations play a crucial role in operator performance and overall line efficiency. By improving these aspects, we can reduce downtime and enhance productivity in our body shop operations.

Scope of the thesis work

We are seeking two motivated master’s students to analyse a manual workstation in a body shop to find the successful elements for an improved work environment that supports the operator in reducing line downtime caused by the operator. The work will focus on the manual work in an existing running line in a body shop environment. It will also be possible to investigate and benchmark other lines in a factory. The expected outcomes are:


1.    Study a workstation and find in which situations it is more commonly stopped.
2.    Investigate the root causes of why that occurs.
3.    Find how the different root causes correlate with each other.
4.    Give suggestions on how the manual workstation can be designed and managed to support the operator and thereby reduce stop time in the line, and achieve the highest possible availability. Give an estimation of an availability number that we can use in a simulation if we use the recommendations.

What you'll bring

  • Master’s degree (MSc) in Production Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation and Mechatronics Engineering, or a closely related field.
  • Basic knowledge of manufacturing processes is considered a merit.

Duration

  • The work will start in January/February 2025, or to be discussed
  • The duration for this thesis work is 20 weeks.
  • 30 ECTS (academic credits) if in agreement with your Thesis Advisor at the University
  • This thesis is to be conducted by 2 Students working in pair.


Volvo Cars. For Life.
For nearly a century, Volvo Cars has empowered people to move freely in a personal, sustainable, and safe way. Today, we are driving bold advancements in electrification, sustainability and automotive safety. To realise our ambitious vision, we are seeking innovative minds who are ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow – today.

At Volvo Cars, we believe extraordinary things are achieved by ordinary people with a passion for making a difference. If you’re inspired by the opportunity to help redefine the future of mobility, we invite you to be part of our journey.

Ready to take the next step?
Applications should include your CV and a brief personal letter stating your interests within the given area and your thoughts and credentials. We are continuously screening applications and will fill the position as soon as we find a good match. So do not hesitate to send in your application.
 
Apply as soon as possible, but no later than 2025-11-30. Please note that due to GDPR, applications via email will not be accepted.
If you want more information about the project or simply learn a bit more about the team, please reach out to the Manager, Patrik Wahlström, at patrik.wahlstrom@volvocars.com or the Supervisor Isabella Steen at isabella.steen@volvocars.com.

As part of the recruitment process, the final candidates might undergo a background check.

We welcome your application!

Gothenburg, SE, 40531

Job requisition ID:  78097

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