University West, Department of Engineering Science

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is University West’s overarching profile and basic principle applied to learning, the exchange of ideas, and educational development. The government has assigned the distinguished task of developing WIL to University West. Work integrated learning in education and research develops new, relevant and advanced knowledge both within the academy and among its partners, which also benefits society in general. University West offers a wide variety of study programs, has a good number of applicants and the students show a high entry rate on the labor market. The main research environments at University West are Production technology, Learning in and for the new working life and Child and youth studies and is conducted in collaboration with the surrounding society. Campus is centrally located in Trollhättan with about 13,000 students and 700 employees.

University West is looking for a PhD student in Production Technology– with focus on production logistics

Within the research group at Production Technology West at University West, research is carried out by about 90 researchers in the area of production technology in close cooperation with industry. In a well-equipped laboratory, dynamic national and international collaborations are underway. The research group production systems within Production Technology West is researching new flexible solutions in robotics and automation for industrial applications. The work in this area takes place both through investigations applying sophisticated simulation modeling jointly with physical experimentation in our advanced automation laboratory.

The scientific work in the PhD project

In a new PhD project in cooperation with Swedish wood-based construction industry we seek a PhD student for a position at University West. The doctoral project covers the area of ​​production logistics, where key aspects of the work will focus on studies of production flows linked to industrial digitalization and concepts such as machine learning and production flow simulation. We focus on applied research in joint collaboration with our industrial partner companies. The doctoral work is aimed at studying production logistics at internal factory level but should also consider the logistical aspects linked to the supply chain for industrialized wood-based construction. Thus, the focus of the work will be to study production logistics internally and between participating companies. Different logistics models within e.g. sales and operations planning, inventory models and methods for production and capacity planning will be explored in relation to manufacturing of wood and wood-based products. Models for production planning are widely used in manufacturing, such as within the automotive industry, and this project aims to analyze and evaluate their applicability for logistic needs when producing building elements. This opens for opportunities in less explored areas and new aspects of production logistics. The research includes studying and developing suitable models in production logistics for industrialized wood-based construction, to meet the challenges this industrial branch is facing today. Examples of challenges are; efficient production flows, large product variations, module based production coupled with solutions for mass customization and final quality inspections including delivery service. Those challenges should be tackled simultaneously with an interest to increase aspects of digitalization, such as applying methods of production flow simulation, machine learning, artificial intelligence and enhanced level of automation.

PhD degree program: Production Technology

Research center: PhD students in Production Technology become members of the research group PTW (Production Technology West). The group collaborates with the engineering industry in the region at the Production Technology Centre, which houses an advanced research laboratory. For more information about our research center, go to https://www.hv.se/en/research/research-environments/production-technology/

Job description: The research program includes, in addition to participation in third-cycle courses and other activities, implementation of an independent thesis work. Doctoral students shall primarily devote themselves to their own education. A doctoral student may, however, be engaged to a limited extent in education, research and administration, mainly within Production Technology. Such duties, before a doctorate has been conferred, may not occupy more than 20 per cent of full-time working hours. (Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100) Chapter 5 section 2).

Qualification requirements: The basic eligibility requirements for doctoral programs as set out in the Higher Education Ordinance are as follows:

  • A degree at master’s level,
  • completed courses totaling at least 240 university credits of which a minimum of 60 at master’s level or,
  • substantially equivalent knowledge gained in some other way whether in Sweden or abroad.

To fulfill the special eligibility requirements for a doctoral degree in Production Technology, a student must hold a degree at master’s level in a subject relevant to the doctoral degree subject. This degree may be in Production Technology or some related discipline. The eligibility requirements may be fulfilled by studies in Sweden or abroad.

For more information please read 3.1 and 3.2 in General syllabus for the third-cycle programme in Production Technology, Ref. No 2015/1343 B 25: https://www.hv.se/en/research/research-education/courses/production-technology/

Selection: The basic factor for selection from among qualified applicants is the ability to profit from such a program. For more information please read 3.3 in General syllabus for the third-cycle programme in Technology in Production Technology, Ref. No 2015/1343 B 25: https://www.hv.se/en/research/research-education/courses/production-technology/ 
The selection process comprises different stages. In addition to the evaluation of the qualification requirements, interviews, referencing, proofreading or individual tasks might be included to assess the candidates.

Qualifications of merit for this position: To be successful in this project the applicant should be highly motivated, possess a structured way of working, and have good communicative and collaborative skills. The applicant should have a strong aptitude for analysis and problem solving of automation and logistical challenges that relates to industry. Experience of having worked with production flow simulations or with logistics and supply chain management are valuable qualifications. It is also of merit to have studied courses in logistics and production flow simulation, as well as possessing programming skills and to have good ability to communicate both verbally and in writing in English.

Duration and terms of employment: Employment as a doctoral student shall be on an open-ended basis but not for longer than to a specific point in time and never for a period extending more than one year after receiving the doctoral degree. The initial appointment must not be for more than one year. The appointment may be renewed for no more than two years at a time. A person may be employed as a research student for a total of not more than eight years. The total period of employment, however, may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study at the third level of higher education. (Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100) Chapter 5 section 7).

Applications are to be submitted electronically through the University West web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. Go to https://www.hv.se/en/meet-university-west/job-opportunities/.

The application must include:

  • CV/Personal qualifications
  • Personal letter containing:
    • Interest in the research topic
    • Previous experience regarding the proposed research topic and its research methods and scientific theories
    • Motive to pursue doctoral studies
  • It is a requirement to include a suggested research proposal (1-2 pages) outlining how the subject area may be approached. As inspiration we here give examples of aspects that can be included in the research proposal:
    • Established models for solving logistical challenges and their possible applications to the described project
    • Concepts within Industry 4.0 worth investigating in relation to the project description
    • Suitable research methods for different aspects of the project
  • Degree project of second level of higher education (master thesis)
  • Degree certificate of first and second level of higher education (bachelor and master degrees)
  • Other documents which the applicant wishes to invoke

Approved written languages regarding papers, diplomas, grades and other relevant documents are the Scandinavian languages and/or English, or translations into any of those languages. Attach the original when submitting translated documents.

The application should reach University West no later than 2020-07-31

Documents that cannot be sent digitally, mark the application with ref.no: 2020/123 and should be sent to:

University West
HR
461 86 Trollhättan
Sweden

Welcome with your application!

We decline any direct contact with the staffing and recruitment companies, as well as vendors of recruitment advertisers.

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment By agreement
Salary Monthly Pay
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Trollhättan
County Västra Götalands län
Country Sweden
Reference number 2020/123
Contact
  • Mikael Ericsson, Head of Division, +46733975074, mikael.ericsson@hv.se
  • Kristina Eriksson, Senior Lecturer, +46721600145, kristina.eriksson@hv.se
  • Chamara Kumara,PhD Committee at University West,, +46520-22 33 59,chamara.kumara@hv.se
Union representative
  • Henrik Johansson, SACO, +46520-22 33 25
  • Laila Jensen Sundgren,OFR , +46520- 22 31 08
Published 22.Jun.2020
Last application date 31.Jul.2020 11:59 PM CEST

Return to job vacancies