Gabriele Hofinger Jünge earns PhD at Norwegian University of Science and Technology

The new doctor in front of the Assesment Committee.

From the right: Professor Fabio Sgarbossa - Administrator of the Committee. Opponent Prof. Iris D. Tommelein , University of California, Berkeley, USA. Opponent Prof. Ralph Riedel, University of Applied Sciences at Zwickau, Germany. Gabriele Hofinge Jünge, doctorate. Main Supervisor Associate Professor Erlend Alfnes, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering NTNU.

Gabriele Hofinge Jünge, our head of Research, Development and Innovation, now holds the title PhD after having successfulllt defended her doctoral thesis at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

This is a great acheivement and a valuable asset to our cluster, and we’re very proud of Gabrieles grit and stamina in this process. She finished the thesis while working full time.

The title of the thesis:

Lean Engineering Design: Applying Lean Thinking to Engineer-To-Order (ETO)

Read the thesis

Research questions answered in the thesis

“How can lean thinking be adapted to the execution of engineering design?”
“How can lean thinking be adapted to the coordination of engineering design with other ETO operations (e.g., procurement and production)?
“How applicable is lean thinking to engineering design?”

Contributions to the Research Field within Lean Thinking, Engineering design and ETO operations

- Overall, this dissertation should provide a better understanding and knowledge of how to adapt and apply lean thinking to engineering design, as found in ETO operations. As such, this dissertation aspires to support those who either study or manage project-based environments, says Gabriele.

Through a rigorous design science research process that addresses relevant gaps in current theory, this PhD dissertation makes several theoretical and managerial contributions.

Highlights in the dissertation

• analysis of the applicability of lean thinking to engineering design, as found in ETO operations;

• identification of real-world challenges concerning poor execution of engineering design

• identification of 20 lean practices, aimed to improve the execution of engineering design

• identification of key engineering design wastes

• identification of nine lean enablers that enable the coordination of engineering design with other ETO operations

• development of the concept of lean engineering design

• analysis of how lean practices can be applied to improve the execution of engineering design by leveling workflow

• analysis of how lean enablers can be applied to improve the coordination of engineering design with other ETO operations by reducing waste

• development of a maturity model as a management tool that guides managers on their path to lean transformation.

Acknowledged by International Researchers

This dissertation was carried out at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department for Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, with the financial support of the Norwegian Research Council.

Associate Professor Erlend Alfnes, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, has been the main supervisor.

Assessment Committee

1. Opponent Iris D. Tommelein , University of California, Berkeley, USA
2. Opponent Ralph Riedel, University of Applied Sciences at Zwickau, Germany

Professor Fabio Sgarbossa has been appointed Administrator of the Committee.

Prof. Sgarbossa made the following statement:

- Gabriele Hofinger Jünge presented her thesis, motivating her research, scope, objectives, approach and findings in a well organised and interesting way. She gave the audience an overview and shared the good insights of the thesis findings. The committee members express high precision for her work, the presentation demonstrated her skill and and motivation as a researcher and a presenter.
During the defense Gabriele answered the questions from the opponents well, she demonstrated good insight into the complexity and the challenges of industrial problems, as well as good knowledge on the theoretical concept to design a practical approach. She recognized the limitiations of her work, reflected well on ideas, developed some of her work for further review and preposed in brief several topic for future research.
The publication of her four papers has demonstrated orginality, and the contribution to knowledge of this research to academia and practice. Insights gained from the case studies, the modelling efforts have the potential to carry over to industry practices in ETO companies.

The defense was followed by a lovely dinner with family, friends and collegues.