Bachelor and Master Theses

To apply for conducting this thesis, please contact the thesis supervisor(s).
Title: Production automation as a service
Subject: Produktion, Industriell ekonomi - Produktionssystem
Level: Advanced
Description:

The emergence of Industry 4.0/5.0 technologies offer innovative opportunities for manufacturing and production. A good technology integration is required for the succesful implementation of advanced production automation, which requires a collaboration between a manufacturing company (receiver) and technology provider (provider). Due to the concept of plug-and-produce and faster integration mechanisms, there is a possibility for the technology provider to offer automation technologies in different types of service-based business models e.g., manufacturing as a service or X-as-a-service through renting or leasing or availbility business models. Despite the great potential, there is a limited knowledge how industrial companies can adopt and integrate such service-based business models in production automation.

Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to identify and analyse the possible business models and related scenarios for production automation as aservice. The thesis include analysis of needs, capabilities, work processes, competences, and relationship between provider and reciever.

The thesis will be guided by following research questions:

  1. What are the needs of manufacturer and technology provider in the context of production automation as a service?
  2. Which business models are suitable in the context of production automation as a service?
  3. How to integrate and operationalise the production automation as a service?

The thesis employs qualitative case study research approach and data collection will be done through semi-structured interviews, workshops, observations, and documentation. In the initial phase, a systematic literature review will take place for understanding the existing knowedge, research gaps, and potential questions to ask in the study.

Time line: 6 months (from January 2023 until June 2023)

Number of students: 1 or 2

 
Start date: 2023-01-01
End date: 2023-06-30
Prerequisites:

Students from master program in production, industrial engineering and management, product development.
IDT supervisors: Koteshwar Chirumalla
Examiner:
Comments:

If you are interested, you can contact me for futher discussion:

Koteshwar Chirumalla, Associate professor in product and production development, koteshwar.chirumalla@mdu.se
Company contact:

Potential companies for research: Volvo, ABB, or other regional SMEs.