Bachelor and Master Theses

Context and Motivation

The manufacturing industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation driven by digitalization, servitization, and platform-based business models. Traditional manufacturers, who primarily focused on selling physical products, are increasingly exploring service-oriented approaches that offer flexibility, scalability, and closer customer integration. One emerging paradigm within this shift is Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS) — a business model that allows customers to access manufacturing capabilities, capacity, or outcomes on-demand, rather than owning production assets.

MaaS leverages Industry 4.0 technologies such as cloud computing, IoT, digital twins, and advanced data analytics to enable networked manufacturing ecosystems, where multiple stakeholders can collaborate efficiently through digital platforms. This transformation has the potential to increase asset utilization, reduce capital barriers, and enhance responsiveness to market fluctuations. However, the adoption of MaaS in traditional manufacturing companies remains limited due to organizational, technological, and business model challenges.

To realize the potential of MaaS, manufacturing firms need to rethink their value creation, delivery, and capture mechanisms, while ensuring interoperability, trust, and sustainability in digital service exchanges. Understanding how to enable and structure MaaS-oriented business models is therefore critical for both incumbent manufacturers and emerging service providers aiming to participate in future industrial ecosystems.

Research Aim:
This research aims to analyze and enable “Manufacturing-as-a-Service” (MaaS) business models in manufacturing companies. The study seeks to identify key enablers, barriers, and design elements that support the transition toward service-based manufacturing. It will develop a conceptual framework for implementing MaaS, focusing on how manufacturers can integrate digital technologies, partnerships, and value networks to create scalable and sustainable business opportunities.

Research Question (RQ):
What are the key enablers and design principles for implementing “Manufacturing-as-a-Service” business models in manufacturing companies, and how can these models be structured to ensure scalability, competitiveness, and sustainability?

Research setting and research group 

The research work will be performed in the framework of SmartCircle (Smart Circularity Implementation). You can search the project on MDU webpage for more information. This thesis work will be part of the research group DigiCircle (Digital and Circular Industrial Services). The group is currently leading research projects on battery circularity, digital and circular business models, digital servitization, and circular ecosystems with more than 10 industrial companies, public funded companies, municipalities, and industrial clusters. Your thesis work will be used as a knowledge development as part of the group and will be used in the relevant courses, projects or publications upon completion. 

Education in one of these areas (Industrial engineering and management, product development, innovation management, business management, product and process development, energy engineering and management) and familiar with circular economy, business models, Industry 4.0 or digital transformation.