Better ergonomics by degree

– Combining studies with a work placement is the ideal situation. However, it’s also good to weave work at a company with new approaches that are developed in the academic hotbeds of colleges and universities. I hope that more and more companies start to see the opportunities and advantages this can bring, says Minna Granström.

She has been studying production development at the vocational university in Värnamo for the past 18 months. The course combined classroom studies with practical work experience. Granström decided to do her placement at Weland.
– It felt like a no-brainer for me to get in touch with Weland as it was somewhere I really wanted to get my professional feet wet, and I was lucky enough to get accepted straight away, she says.

Granström spent two days a week working at Weland. She spent the initial part of her placement getting to know the company and got a good insight into the business by working in a number of different departments. It was something she really appreciated.“
– It was both enjoyable and rewarding to be able to follow the work that was being done in each department, as well as to see how the departments worked together in a uniform whole, she says.

Reduce manual lifts
Granström did her final degree work in the packing department. Her task was to evaluate what could be done to avoid the need for manual lifts in the department.
– I started by observing how staff worked and brought with me a lifting aid supplier in order to evaluate various solutions. The packing department handles a number of different types of product, but after talking with the staff, we decided to focus on the packing of spiral staircases as that is a process that requires the lifting of heavy items such as central tubes and staircases.

The work done by Granström produced a proposed solution.
– By installing a rail system fitted with lifting devices in the ceiling, it’s possible to almost eliminate manual lifts, says Lars-Ove Karlsson, work lead in the department.

Granström thinks it is important that companies take advantage of the knowledge and expertise that exists in the university.
– Many companies don’t always have the necessary time or resources to take on such targeted projects, so establishing collaborative relationships with colleges and universities can be of great benefit, she says.

– It’s a positive experience for everyone involved; companies hopefully see approaches they’ve never considered, and students gain practical experience. It’d be great if more companies saw the possibilities and contacted universities, because at the moment it’s usually the students that take the first step, says Granström, who appreciates the quick “yes” Weland gave her when she asked about her placement.

Published: 2026-01-19