HSE University-Perm Students to Prepare Recommendations on Improving Uralchem Business Processes
Students of the Bachelor’s in Business Administration are working on a project to improve the efficiency of laboratory work at Voskresensk Mineral Fertilizers (VMF). In their six months of working with the company, they have conducted a full study of analytical control schedules, identified the most labour-intensive processes and types of laboratory analysis, and taken part in a poster session in July.
The task to improve the efficiency of the Voskresensk laboratories’ work originated at the end of 2021. The client was Alexandr Filatov, Head of the Quality Department at Uralchem Group, a leading manufacturer of mineral fertilisers in Russia. The decision was made to offer internships to students from HSE University-Perm to work alongside representatives of VMF, Uralchem Shared Services Centre and Uralchem Group. This format would allow the students to work on a project internally under real conditions, and give the company an opportunity to attract early-career professionals and utilise their potential.
HSE students at Uralchem internship
The project team’s main task was to develop an optimisation model that accounts for the number of laboratories and analyses and reduces the average time taken to complete them. The desired result is an optimal analytical control schedule.
In six months of joint work, the students and representatives of Uralchem Shared Services Centre and VMF conducted a full investigation into existing analytic control schedules and identified the most labour-intensive process and types of laboratory analysis. In July, the interns went to Voskresensk to observe the sample selection and analysis process under real conditions, determine the duration of operations, and discuss proposals with laboratory staff.
Anna Adilova, student of the Bachelor’s in Business Administration
It was an interesting experience of interaction between students and business. I liked the session-based format for its richness and productivity. A lot of time was devoted to quality data analysis, but we also had the time and resources to complete tasks remotely.
I would also like to highlight the attitude of the employees and management at Voskresensk, their hospitality, and their desire to share knowledge and help achieve results.
Artemiy Lysov, Operational Efficiency Specialist at Uralchem
This project is part of a large-scale effort by Uralchem to improve operational efficiency and minimise losses. As a result of their work, the students will prepare recommendations for changing the analytical control business process while taking into account organisational and technical solutions. At the start of August, they will give a presentation with analytics, expected results and actions and defend to the client.
Uralchem Shared Services Centre is ready to work not only with students from Perm, but those from other cities too. The centre’s employees would be eager to assemble a working group to improve business processes for other companies in the holding.