Thesis Worker, Maintenance management trends

Transport is at the core of modern society. Imagine using your expertise to shape sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions for the future. If you seek to make a difference on a global scale, working with next-gen technologies and the sharpest collaborative teams, then we could be a perfect match. 

What you will do

At Volvo Construction Equipment, you will contribute to strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of our global supplier network by exploring one of the most critical enablers of manufacturing performance: maintenance management.

As manufacturing evolves through digitalization, electrification, automation, and sustainability demands, effective maintenance has become a strategic capability rather than simply a support function. In this Master Thesis, you will investigate how leading manufacturing organizations leverage proactive, preventive, and predictive maintenance practices to improve operational performance and supply chain reliability.

You will

• Analyze current maintenance management practices within selected Volvo CE suppliers and manufacturing processes.
• Conduct an extensive literature review and benchmark industry-leading approaches across relevant manufacturing technologies.
• Explore emerging trends such as predictive maintenance, artificial intelligence, condition monitoring, smart factory solutions, and digital maintenance management.
• Assess the business impact of maintenance management on key performance indicators including cost, quality, delivery performance, productivity, sustainability, and supply chain resilience.
• Engage with Volvo stakeholders, suppliers, and industry experts through interviews and research activities.
• Identify critical success factors, implementation barriers, and future opportunities.
• Develop a practical framework and recommendations that can support future maintenance excellence within selected manufacturing processes.

This thesis offers a unique opportunity to combine academic research with real-world industrial challenges while contributing to the future of sustainable and resilient manufacturing.

Your future team

You will join the Supplier Development and Purchasing community within Volvo Construction Equipment, working in a highly collaborative and international environment. 

Throughout the thesis, you will interact with experienced professionals across purchasing, operations, and supplier development functions. You will gain exposure to strategic business challenges, industry-leading suppliers, and a broad network of experts who are passionate about operational excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.

As this thesis is intended for two students, you will have the opportunity to work closely with a thesis partner while being supported by Volvo professionals throughout the project.

Who are you?

Do you enjoy understanding how complex manufacturing systems work and how data-driven decisions can improve business performance? Are you curious about the future of industrial operations and supply chain resilience? Then you could be the candidate we are looking for.

Essential qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, Data Science, Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Condition Monitoring Technologies, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Genuine interest in manufacturing, industrial operations, and supply chain performance.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and structure complex research topics.
• Fluent in English, written and spoken.
• Curious mindset with a willingness to learn and challenge existing ways of working.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with data analytics, statistical analysis, or quantitative research.
• Knowledge of maintenance management, reliability engineering, condition monitoring, or operational excellence methodologies.
• Experience conducting academic research, benchmarking studies, or process mapping activities.
• Interest in Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes such as machining, forging, casting, welding, or painting.
• Experience working with industrial data or manufacturing performance indicators.

What’s in it for you?

At Volvo Construction Equipment, we believe learning happens when curiosity meets real business challenges.

As part of this thesis, you will enjoy

• The opportunity to work on a strategically important topic with direct relevance to current industry transformations.
• Exposure to a global manufacturing and supplier network.
• Collaboration with experienced professionals across purchasing, supplier development, manufacturing, and operations.
• Hands-on experience applying academic methods to real-world business challenges.
• Insight into emerging technologies such as predictive maintenance, artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, and digital operations.
• A supportive and collaborative environment where your ideas and recommendations can make a real difference.
• Valuable professional connections with Volvo experts, suppliers, and industry specialists.
• Flexible working arrangements and the possibility to collaborate across multiple Volvo Construction Equipment locations in Sweden.

This is more than a thesis project. It is an opportunity to develop expertise in an area that is becoming increasingly important for the future of manufacturing and supply chain performance.

Ready for the next move?

Are you excited about combining academic excellence with practical business impact?

This thesis gives you the opportunity to investigate one of the most important challenges facing modern manufacturing while working alongside industry professionals shaping the future of sustainable and resilient supply chains.

If you are motivated by research, innovation, and continuous improvement, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today and help us explore how world-class maintenance management can drive the next generation of manufacturing performance at Volvo Construction Equipment supplier chain.

We value your data privacy and therefore do not accept applications via mail. 

Who we are and what we believe in

We are committed to shaping the future landscape of efficient, safe, and sustainable transport solutions. Fulfilling our mission creates countless career opportunities for talents across the group’s leading brands and entities.

Applying to this job offers you the opportunity to join Volvo Group. Every day, you will be working with some of the sharpest and most creative brains in our field to be able to leave our society in better shape for the next generation. ​We are passionate about what we do, and we thrive on teamwork. ​We are almost 100,000 people united around the world by a culture of care, inclusiveness, and empowerment. 

Part of Volvo Group, Volvo Construction Equipment is a global company driven by our purpose to build the world we want to live in. Together we develop and deliver solutions for a cleaner, smarter, and more connected world. By unleashing everyone’s full potential, we build a more sustainable future for all our stakeholders. Come join our team and help us build a better tomorrow.