The Chair of Production Management at the Institute of Technology Management (ITEM-HSG), headed by Prof. Dr. Thomas Friedli and VAT Vakuumventile, is looking for a Master Thesis Student (with immediate effect or by arrangement)
Master Thesis Student (m/f/d)
"Multi-Level Shopfloor Management Through Relevant KPIs and Effective Shopfloor Boards at VAT Vakuumventile"
Introduction to the Cooperation Partner (VAT Vakuumventile)
VAT Vakuumventile is a manufacturer of high-performance vacuum vales for customers in the semiconductor industry ranging from microchips, and displays to solar cell production. With production sites in Switzerland, Malaysia, and Romania, VAT serves 29 countries worldwide and makes a yearly turnover of about CHF 900mio.
Introduction to the thesis topic
The objective of this master's thesis is to develop a systematic approach to Shopfloor Management by optimizing the use of Shopfloor Boards across multiple levels within an organization. The focus will be on identifying and implementing relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Shopfloor Management processes.
Potential Thesis Tasks & Focus Topics:
- Literature Review:
- Conduct a comprehensive review of existing research on Performance Management approaches in Production Management (incl. Shopfloor Management, Shopfloor Boards, KPI, etc.)
- Identify best practices and methodologies used in other organizations for Shopfloor Management.
- Systematic Approach:
- Develop a structured approach for cascading VAT's production targets across different management levels and production departments.
- Define the elements required for effective Shopfloor Boards at VAT.
- KPI Identification and Implementation:
- Determine which KPIs are relevant for different departments (e.g., Machining, Vulcanizing, Assembly) and how they can be effectively measured.
- Explore the integration of digital and analog data sources for KPI tracking and visualization.
- Standardization and Global Scope:
- Ensure the standardization and alignment of Shopfloor Boards and KPIs across various global locations (e.g., Switzerland, Romania, Malaysia).
- Employee Engagement and Visualization:
- Investigate methods to enhance employee identification and engagement with Shopfloor Management through effective visualizing KPIs and other relevant information.
- Practical Application:
- Apply the developed approach to specific departments within the organization and evaluate its effectiveness and performance
- Recommendations:
- Provide recommendations for further improvement and global scalability of your Shopfloor Management approach
We offer
- Involvement in current research activities
- Participation in an industrial project in cooperation with international companies (if wanted)
- Inspiring working atmosphere in a young, highly motivated team
- Possibility to supervise a bachelor/master thesis in cooperation with external universities
We expect
- Strong analytical skills and critical thinking
- Interest in Operational Excellence and / or Performance Management
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with professionals from diverse backgrounds
- Background in engineering and / or management studies
- Fluent in German and English
- Result-oriented and structured work ethos with, motivation, initiative and accuracy
- Initial experience in a business / manufacturing environment through internships or part-time jobs
Are you interested?
We are looking forward to receiving your message. Please send us your application (short motivation, curriculum vitae, transcript of records). Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding the advertised thesis.
