Master Thesis: Improving Spare Parts Phase-In Planning under Demand Uncertainty
Göteborg, SE, 417 56
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
The Volvo Group service market operates within a complex global network of suppliers, distribution centers, and dealers. Ensuring spare parts availability across this network is essential to supporting customer uptime. However, planning newly introduced spare parts is particularly challenging: historical demand is limited or unavailable, and the timing and volume of future demand are difficult to predict.
During this phase-in period, planners must balance two costly risks. Excess inventory ties up capital and can lead to overstock and obsolescence. Insufficient inventory can result in parts shortages, costly emergency deliveries, and extended vehicle downtime.
You will investigate how available data, analytical methods, and structured planning processes can improve spare parts phase-in decisions under demand uncertainty. The work may include analyzing historical spare parts introductions and subsequent demand, identifying information that can support early demand estimates, and evaluating approaches to initial stocking and inventory adjustment as new information becomes available.
The thesis should take a holistic perspective on phase-in planning, connecting demand estimation and uncertainty with inventory decisions and the costs of both overstock and insufficient availability.
Key Responsibilities:
- Examine current spare parts phase-in planning practices and analyze historical introductions and subsequent demand.
- Evaluate how available data and analytical methods can support demand estimation and inventory decisions when demand history is limited.
- Investigate approaches to balancing the costs and risks of excess inventory and insufficient parts availability.
- Compile and present research findings and practical recommendations.
Expected Outcomes:
- An improved understanding of demand patterns and uncertainty during spare parts phase-in.
- An evaluation of data and methods that can support initial stocking decisions and subsequent inventory adjustments.
- Practical recommendations for improving phase-in planning while balancing inventory costs and parts availability.
- A detailed report outlining the research, methodology, findings, and recommendations.
Are you interested in joining us?
We are seeking two motivated master's students studying Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or another relevant field. You should be interested in demand planning, inventory management, and using data and analytical methods to solve complex business challenges.
Location: Göteborg
Contact: Joakim Andersson (joakim.andersson.3@volvo.com) or David Törnqvist (david.tornqvist@volvo.com)
Last application date: 2026-11-16
Please include your CV, cover letter, and university grade transcripts in your application. Applications will be reviewed continuously, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
We value your data privacy and therefore do not accept applications by email.
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.
Trucks Technology & Industrial Division hire team players who are ready to create real customer impact. Our decentralized teams work close to our customers, with speed and autonomy, to build what they truly need.
Join us to collaborate on innovative, sustainable technologies that redefine how we design, build, and deliver value. Bring your curiosity, your expertise, and your collaborative energy, and together, we’ll turn bold ideas into tangible solutions for our customers and contribute to a more sustainable tomorrow.