We are now looking for 2 students that wants to write their Master thesis at IKEA Range & Supply from January to June 2021.

IKEA is committed to become climate positive by 2030 by reducing more greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) than the IKEA value chain emits, while growing the IKEA business. To reach this, IKEA needs tools to support fact-based goal-setting and decision making. While tools are available globally for performance follow-up, capabilities also need to be developed for scenario analysis and simulation of future development and impact of actions.

IKEA is seeking 2 Master’s thesis students to develop a simulation tool to enable a company to set and achieve climate goals. This simulation tool will enable a company to analyze the climate footprint of different scenarios. For example, different scenarios could include the impact of securing 100% renewable electricity in a specific country, converting a material to 100% recycled content, improving the energy efficiency of electricity-consuming products, etc. 

Today in IKEA, two simulation tools have been developed with an interface (using Excel and Visual Basics), but it needs to be expanded to cover the remaining part of the IKEA value chain: materials, food ingredients, product transport, retail & other own operations, customer travel & home deliveries and product end-of-life. To enable use by the many within IKEA, it needs to be developed in Excel. Once developed, these solutions will serve as interim solutions while they are step-by-step migrated to the relevant business intelligence systems. This enables efficient testing with the end users before moved to a more set environment (which also takes a lot more time).

The simulation tool should build on the existing climate database (currently in Excel), but with a user-friendly and modern interface. The tool will provide the students insight on how companies can use scenario analyses to advance their climate ambitions. 

The deliverables are:
-    A simulation tool is developed and deployed for each part of the IKEA value chain. The simulation tool should be user-friendly and automated (as far as possible).
-    The existing database structure is modified and simplified as needed to suit the simulation tool. 
-    Recommendations for how to use the tool going forward are identified (i.e. using the tool in different contexts, building out additional features).

The purpose is to enable a facts-based approach to climate goal setting by analysing the climate footprint of different scenarios. 

The students should have a background in engineering and/or IT, with a passion for sustainability and climate-related topics. The students should have strong skills in programming and algorithm theory, with sufficient programming knowledge in Excel and Visual Basics, as well as a knack for developing intuitive user interfaces. The students must have English fluency. 

For any questions about the role please contact [email protected] that will be the supervisor or if you have any questions regarding the recruitment process please contact [email protected]. 
You must clearly state your available start date and a short description of how this assignment fits into your degree programme. 

We are looking forward to your application! Please submit both your CV and motivational letter in English latest 29/11 2020. 

Please note:
To take part of the Thesis work, you have to be enrolled in a Thesis course provided at university level/Thesis agreement with the university.