Optimizing Manual Production Flows & Organizational Structures in MedTech (Frankfurt / Remote)

__ Title: Optimizing Manual Production Flows & Organizational Structures in MedTech (Frankfurt / Remote) Company / Organization: AddLife AB (Owner/Manager) & Portfolio Company (Ophthalmology Manufacturing) Scope: Flexible. Primarily ideal for a Master Thesis (30 ECTS), but we are highly open to a shorter/focused study such as a Bachelor Thesis (15 ECTS) or an advanced project course, depending on the applicants. Location: Remote / Flexible (Stockholm/Anywhere) with planned, fully funded site visits to the production facility in the Frankfurt area, Germany. Background & Project Description: AddLife is a leading European player in Life Science, acquiring and developing market-leading niche companies. One of our portfolio companies, located in the Frankfurt area, specializes in the manufacturing of high-quality ophthalmology (eye care) products. Currently, the production line is highly manual, creating unique challenges and opportunities for optimization. As the company scales, we need to optimize our production efficiency. However, we firmly believe that technical flow optimization cannot be separated from human factors. Therefore, this project takes a holistic socio-technical approach, merging physical operations with organizational structures and employee incentives. The project is fully backed and managed by AddLife. The executive sponsor and mentor for this project is a Board Member and a KTH Alumnus from Industrial Engineering and Management (Industriell Ekonomi, I-98). This ensures high strategic impact, top-level internal support, and dedicated mentorship from someone who understands the KTH curriculum and student perspective. The work can be conducted remotely, but will include site visits to Germany for data collection and factory floor analysis. Key Objectives & Scope of Work: (The depth of these objectives will be adjusted to match whether the project is a 30 ECTS, 15 ECTS, or shorter study) * Production & Flow Optimization: Map and analyze the current, heavily manual production processes to identify bottlenecks and efficiency gains. * Organizational Design: Evaluate team structures, shop-floor decision-making, and communication channels between production teams and management. * Incentive & Wage Structures: Analyze how current compensation and wage structures impact productivity, employee engagement, and retention. * Holistic Recommendation: Deliver a strategic roadmap where manual flow optimization is synchronized with organizational improvements and aligned reward systems. Who Are We Looking For? We are looking for a team of 1-2 driven students (preferably a pair) enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program such as: * Industrial Engineering and Management (Industriell ekonomi) - focus on Operations Management, Logistics, or Organizational Design. Or similar fit. Requirements & Skills: * Fluency in English (German is a plus but not mandatory). * Strong analytical skills (and an interest in the MedTech/Life Science industry and operations / manufacturing.) * Understanding of socio-technical systems, Lean operations, Process optimization, Organizational structures. * Ability to work independently on a remote basis, with flexibility to travel for site visits. What We Offer: * A high-impact, strategic project managed directly by the parent company (AddLife) with board-level sponsorship and dedicated KTH Alumnus mentoring. * A unique international experience in a strictly regulated and exciting industry (MedTech). * Full coverage of travel expenses and accommodation for the site visits in Germany. Extent: 15-30 hp. Application email: per.wahlstedt@add.life.