Master thesis: Production cost analysis of an additive manufacturing production unit

New technologies emerge on the market as we speak, and right now the industry considers near net shape technologies, such as Additive Manufacturing (AM), to be one of the disruptive frontrunners.

We produce bespoke additively manufactured parts at our AM Service Center in Sandviken, Sweden. To further develop our offering and to complement our growth plan in production, we aim to gain a better understanding of the production cost of additively manufactured components. We believe that there is a vast opportunity to drive down production cost through standard tools like value chain analysis and accounting cost tools.

What makes the opportunity to contribute in this project unique for you as a graduating student is the fact that you will be part of a newly established, diverse and energetic team here at the AM Service Center. You will be working alongside industry experts and in an AM production environment and get hands-on experience on the latest AM technology.

Background and scope of the project

Goal of the project is to provide the data needed to better calculate current and future production cost. The data and findings you contribute with, will be used for budgeting and in the offer process with our customers. Your analysis will be based on current and future production equipment.

There is opportunity to combine a entrepreneurial business experience with a hands-on technical portion to this project, at the production site, using methods such as measuring production times and conducting the value chain analysis, and modelling, to name but a few. There is an opportunity to also deep-dive in theoretical methods, when analyzing the current cost structure and the current production cost calculation methods.

Based on this initial data gathering and analysis, different methods for production cost calculation should be evaluated. The goal is to recommend and introduce a model, algorithm or updated method that can be utilized with real world customer cases from our sales and production team. Furthermore your task will derive useful KPIs that can be used to monitor future production. Ideally the thesis will include proposed actions to drive down cost and lead time in the future.

Work description

• Value chain analysis on current production
• Analysis of current cost calculation method
• Analysis of current cost structure and accounting
• Visualizing value chain analysis and derive proposed actions
• Evaluating different industry standard cost calculation tools
• Recommend and implement cost calculation method in current offering and production process
• Recommend actions for reduction of waste in production
• Recommend Introduction of additional KPIs for control and steering of production cost

Student background

The ideal candidate is a mechanical engineer/economy student or similar, with focused studies on production methods, production cost and accounting techniques. It would be good to have experience from working in established production environments. Accounting experience, working with lean manufacturing principles and insight into additive manufacturing are a further benefit. The Thesis shall be written in English or Swedish language. Working language is either English or Swedish.

We actively work to create a workplace that is characterized by diversity and inclusion.

Duration

The thesis project lasts 20 weeks, starting as soon as possible. The location is Sandviken, Sweden.

Application and contact

For more information about this thesis project or to apply, please contact:

Harald Kissel, email: harald.kissel@sandvik.com

The selection is done continuously. Please send us your application as soon as possible, but no later than November 30, 2022.

Read more about our additive manufacturing offering on our website additive.sandvik