Background:

I grew up on the west coast of Norway, close to Bergen. Before I started my journey to become an engineer in 2014, I worked in the Norwegian Navy with logistics and management of personnel and materials. 

Bachelor’s degree:

In 2017 I completed my bachelor thesis in Mechanical Engineering from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences in Bergen (HVL).  

Why Global Manufacturing Management?

My bachelor thesis combined several different fields and required a holistic approach. I liked the multidisciplinary work and to see how things are connected. GMM combines a technical background with management and strategy and it concerns a broad spectrum of industries. The international environment was also appealing, as you get friends from all over the world with different cultural backgrounds.   

Specialization:

I chose the production string as I felt it appealed the most to my technical background. This string has interesting subjects, which for example concerns lean which I find interesting.  

What would you like to work with in the future?

A background from GMM opens possibilities for many different jobs, in different industries. I guess my dream job in the future could involve management on an operational or strategic level. 

What do you enjoy doing in the weekends in Trondheim? 

Something that is special about Trondheim is the relatively stable winters and the easy access to skiing trails close to the city center. Also, there are several things to do and cool restaurants and cafés. A perfect weekend for me would contain outdoor activities, and social gatherings – Trondheim accommodates both! 

Background:

I am 28 years old, and I am from Nebraska, USA. I grew up in a small rural town, studied chemical engineering at the University of Nebraska, and then worked as a project engineer for four years at a medical device company in Omaha, Nebraska, before moving to Norway. 

Bachelor’s degree:

My bachelor’s degree is in chemical engineering from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.   

Why Global Manufacturing Management?

I was looking for interesting opportunities that would allow me to further my international experience and continue living abroad. When I found the GMM program, it aligned well with my previous work experience and my future career goals. Also, the “global” part of the program was enticing to me, as it matched my desire to meet different people and get more international experience.  

Specialization:

I chose the production specialization because I enjoy working with manufacturing processes. The majority of my experience is in the production side of manufacturing, and I want to continue on that path.   

What would you like to work with in the future?

I am currently looking to stay in Norway, but I am not set on exactly what sort of job I most prefer. I enjoy project management and engineering, but working with supply chain, logistics, or continuing my studies through a PhD program is also appealing to me.  

My thesis topic is how production planning and control relates to food waste in the confectionery supply chain. Sustainability is an important topic to me, and big improvements can come from changing the supply chain, through sourcing more sustainable materials, reducing waste and pollution in manufacturing and distribution, and implementing a circular economy.  

What do you enjoy doing in the weekends in Trondheim? 

The best Trondheim experiences for me are a combination of good friends, good weather, and dancing. A perfect weekend for me would be salsa dancing on Friday night, hanging out with friends for a BBQ on Saturday, and spending Sunday hiking in Bymarka.  

Background:

I am 23 years old and come from Paris, France. I am an engineering student from Mines Nancy, a French graduate school and currently I am studying for a double degree at NTNU.

Bachelor’s degree:

I have a Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Mines Nancy.   

Why Global Manufacturing Management?

The GMM program really interested me because it provides the big picture of what transnational companies are and the way they operate. 

The French educational system is a bit different: after high school I went to a 2-year undergraduate program for preparation to national competitive exams for admission to French most prestigious graduate schools of engineering. I went to Mines Nancy for 2 years, and instead of spending the last year of my Masters in France, I decided to go to NTNU for the GMM program. Therefore, when finishing the GMM Master I will have a degree from NTNU and one from Mines Nancy.  

Specialization:

My specialization is in purchasing management. I find it very interesting because it involves the relationships with the suppliers, and it is fundamental to understand how a company works.

What would you like to work with in the future?

I will probably work with purchasing management, maybe as a consultant or directly in a company to try to understand which purchasing strategy should be used and how it should be implemented for various companies. In order to do so, I will certainly be an intern in France, for a 6-month internship, in my last semester in GMM, so I will have to manage the Master’s thesis and the internship. By doing so, I will know more about my work preferences once I graduate. 

What do you enjoy doing in the weekends in Trondheim? 

A perfect weekend in Trondheim for me involves going on a hike, there are so many things to see near Trondheim, and I would also take a lot of pictures of the landscape! In the evening I would just have a party with my friends and we would go to Studentersamfundet (Samfundet) to enjoy the rest of the night.

Background:

I am 25 years old and I come from Nantong in the Shanghai metropolitan area. I have taken both my bachelor and master degrees in Norway. 

Bachelor’s degree:

I did my bachelor’s degree at NTNU Ålesund, where I specialized in Product and System Design (POD).  

Why Global Manufacturing Management?

GMM came into my sight when I was about to finish my bachelor’s degree and was looking for a master study ahead. In my bachelor’s degree, the main focus has been on the engineering side of the picture. Therefore, I was looking forward to expanding my knowledge structure into the managerial side of the picture so that I can gain a more inclusive perspective. As a matter of fact, the job market was quite tough for mechanical engineers the year I graduated, making it a perfect opportunity to take GMM in this sense. 

Specialization:

I went for the production string. This is because of the good match between my previous background and this string. Since my previous background (POD) involves machinery systems, product design and engineering, it makes a GMM master study extra suitable.  

The GMM production string further builds on this knowledge by addressing another dimension of the same process: manufacturing management and supply chain management. This is quite a good academic extension to my POD background. Also, I must say that I have met some of the most inspiring professors I have ever come across in my entire academic experience. From them, I have not only been able to gain a solid academic foundation, but they have also inspired me when it comes to being both competent and kind at the same time 

What would you like to work with in the future?

I would describe the job prospects of a GMM graduate as very good. I already had this impression when I was doing research on the study program, and personal experiences from my own job application processes have confirmed this understanding. Already in the 3rd semester, I was so lucky to get 3 job offers from Equinor, SINTEF and Posten&Bring, which are firms specializing in energy, R&D and logistics respectively. Therefore, it’s fair to say that, one will have the opportunity of employment within various fields and types of firms, upon the completion of GMM. I do believe that a GMM background together with a solid academic performance and enriched extra curriculum involvement, makes job prospects quite promising for candidates.  

What do you enjoy doing in the weekends in Trondheim? 

When I did my bachelor’s degree in Ålesund, I have already been enjoying the great study environment and beautiful nature. Trondheim, in some ways, has even more to offer. Trondheim is a place combining both nature and city life, which makes it suitable for jogging with a lot to see and enjoy. In addition, there are just tons of bars in the town center (I probably should not tell you, but there are even bars in the Moholt Studentby…), and many of them holds cultural activities such mini-concerts and guest lectures on many different themes. On weekends, I could for example head out for a drink or dinner with my classmates, hang out at a coffee shop, or hit the gym. Much to do in Trondheim, I would say! 

Background:

Nina is 25 years old and comes from Stord, Norway. Her educational background is a bachelor degree in manufacturing engineering. 

Why Global Manufacturing Management?

During my bachelor, among the more technical courses, I was introduced to lean and production logistics. This made me more curious of the many aspects of manufacturing management for different production environments, so I started to look for a master’s programme focusing more on the management aspect. GMM, which covered manufacturing logistics, strategy, and management, was a suitable fit. 

What is your thesis about?

My thesis was a case study conducted at Kongsberg Maritime Subsea, with the focus of developing a hybrid scheduling and control system. This system was intended to facilitate lean flow in a manufacturing environment with uncertain forecast, long lead times and varying processes such as system configurations, assemblies and tests. 

What are your job prospects?

While doing my GMM studies, I had a summer job and part-time job as research assistant at the department (of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering), where I got a lot of responsibilities and hands-on experience on how theory could be used in practice. Before ending my studies, I got a job offer from Capgemini. 

GMM is, in my opinion, a very versatile programme that provides more than just knowledge about manufacturing management. I felt that the GMM students had a lot of different job opportunities, depending on personal interests. What motivated me when applying for the position at Capgemini was my interest of conducting business analysis together with configuration of technology and support systems. At Capgemini, I work as a Business Analyst at the customer relationship management (CRM) department. Even though the GMM master programme mainly has a manufacturing perspective, the master’s degree provides very valuable insight to business analysis and management in general.

My days at work can vary a lot, especially between the different projects. However, with my current project, we do a lot of as-is/to-be evaluations, in order to ensure that we configure the CRM system for optimal processes. This includes meetings, workshops, analysis of the business, as well as documentation, research and configurations of the CRM-system and support systems. What I appreciate the most working at Capgemini is the responsibility, flexibility, and working environment. Capgemini encourages personal development, and provides the necessary support. As a result of this, I got the opportunity to start in a project quickly after being employed, which has resulted in a steep learning curve.

Background:

Maren is 26 years old and comes from Trondheim, Norway. Her educational background is a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering with specialization in product development at NTNU (former Høgskolen I Sør-Trøndelag).

Why Global Manufacturing Management?

I had currently finished a technical bachelor degree, and wanted to learn more about strategy and management. GMM offered courses which suited my interests. The GMM study was perfect for me since it gave me the possibility to combine my technology background with more management related courses without losing the engineering perspective.

What is your thesis about?

In my master thesis I researched how lean can affect the implementation of complex engineering projects. I looked into how lean can contribute to shorten the implementation timeline, reduce the implementation costs, and raise the quality in an oil and gas project performed by an alliance. Topics such as supplier involvement and strategic management decision were looked closely at during my master thesis.

What are your job prospects?

The job prospects are good even though it is a downturn in the economy. A technical background and a master degree in management with specialization in topics such as lean and optimization make students from GMM strong candidates in the job marked. The competence you gain from GMM is highly applicable and relevant in several industries, which increases the number of relevant job opportunities when graduated. I was lucky and got a job before finishing my master degree at RELEX Solutions, a Supply Chain consultancy firm. My position is Supply Chain Consultant. The broad competence I gained from GMM in the supply chain field made me highly relevant for my position. I am working with implementation projects for customers. My days at work include tasks such as coordinating projects, working with business configurations, conducting testing and customer training, and supporting customers in their change management process. I wanted to work in a company where I could continue to learn, and contribute to the development of exciting customers, as well as my own company. RELEX is a small company where you early get a lot of responsibility, and can affect the implementation of customers’ projects. RELEX is a good starting point for my career.

Background:

Runa is 25 years old and from Ålesund, Norway. Her educational background is a bachelor degree in manufacturing engineering from Høgskolen i Bergen.

Why Global Manufacturing Management?

GMM offered courses that suited my field of interests; less technical, and more focus on management, such as courses related to logistics, strategy, lean and improvement management. I chose GMM because I liked the possibility to combine my previous engineering knowledge with the courses GMM offered. 

What is your thesis about?

My master thesis is about lean implementation, and the title is “Applicability of lean techniques in high-variety, low-volume manufacturing”. I will look at different companies that lack the preconditions many consider necessary for successful lean implementation, and look at how they have adapted traditional lean techniques to suit their manufacturing environment. Based on this, it might be possible to create a set of supporting techniques for future use in similar companies. Through my master thesis, I want to gain more knowledge of practical use of lean.

What are your job prospects?

It seems like GMM students have good prospects of getting a job after finishing their studies. I was lucky and got a graduate program position at an IT consulting company, where I will work with a variety of projects. Through my job I will work with business consulting, where I have a good starting point with the knowledge I have gained through GMM.

How do you like Trondheim?

Trondheim is a great city for students. The nature is nice and the people are very friendly and easy to get in contact with. Sometimes I go to the Studentersamfundet (student society) which holds many concerts and other activities throughout both semesters. There are a lot of activities in Trondheim to attend to if you want, such as sports, outdoor activities, concerts and seminars.  

Background:

Background:

Background:

Global Manufacturing Management student Yoana Milazzo is the current GMM student representative and she has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from her home country of Venezuela.

Why did you want to study GMM and how do you like it so far?

I decided to continue my studies in the Global Manufacturing Management programme at NTNU because it complements by background in Mechanical Engineering and my working experience within the industry. The programme caught my attention for its focus in managing processes and technologies with strategic points of view which are needed in today's enterprises.

The programme has cover all my expectations regarding courses related to project- and supply chain- management, manufacturing strategies, managerial economics, logistics and purchasing as well as research methodologies.

What is your thesis about?

My master's thesis is in the field of production planning and control. I will develop a model to support real time control in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness at the shop-floor. Basically, the model supports the decision-making process when unexpected events occur in a job-shop production environment. It is focused on understanding the production process of a job-shop environment and identifying the real time events and challenges in production control.

What are your job prospects?

I enjoy working with problems where I can apply the knowledge gained in practical solutions. I have enjoyed the development of the master thesis and the specialization project at NTNU and would like to work with research involving manufacturing environments or get a vacancy related to manufacturing and supply chain management, which is where I want to specialize.

How do you like Trondheim and NTNU?

The experience of my master studies in Trondheim is a great! It is an excellent opportunity to get to know new people and different life styles. Trondheim is a perfect place for outdoor sports and the best part is that it's basically for free! There so many spare-time opportunities here, so I've never got bored or had the time to worry about the dark, cold winter, rather enjoying the activities offered. I've been working part time as a student assistant and in a cafe in the city center. I've been doing activities like swimming, bike riding as well as skiing! The university has high quality tech facilities and I'm impressed with all the information you have access to and the collaboration that the departments have with the industry. Furthermore, everybody speaks English, which makes the interaction with students and staff effortlessly.