KTH Sweden and ITS Develop Research on Sustainable Retail and Waste Distribution

International Collaboration for Sustainable Manufacturing: KTH Sweden Student Internship Program at ITS Manufacturing Systems Laboratory

Imagine what it would be like if students from two countries with different cultures and educational systems could work together to solve real-world problems in society. This is what happened in the international internship program between the Manufacturing Systems Laboratory, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, Surabaya, and students from KTH Royal Institute of Technology. In August 2025, the Manufacturing Systems Laboratory had the opportunity to accept four international interns: Erik Bringle, Olof Ekelof, Axel Claesson, and Linus Mattson. The four students were from the Industrial Engineering program with a focus on Applied Mathematics and participated in the internship program as a form of community service through academic approaches and applied research.

In its implementation, the intern students were divided into two research groups based on the topics raised. The first group, consisting of Erik and Axel, focused on optimizing garbage truck distribution in Surabaya City through a study entitled “Vehicle Routing Optimization and Discrete-Event Simulation to Improve Municipal Waste Collection.” This research combines the vehicle routing optimization method to determine the most optimal distribution route with a discrete-event simulation approach to simulate real-world operational conditions. This approach allows for a more efficient analysis of the waste distribution system, thereby reducing travel time, fuel consumption, and potential delays in waste collection.

Meanwhile, the second group, consisting of Linus and Olof, addressed the issue of sustainability through a study entitled “Modeling Sustainable Retail Adoption Among Indonesian Generation Z Consumers.” This study focused on the implementation of the zero-waste store concept in Surabaya by analyzing the behavior of Generation Z consumers in Indonesia. Using logistic regression methods, they analyzed survey data from previous studies to identify the demographic factors most influential in the adoption of a sustainable lifestyle. The results of this study are expected to provide strategic insights for businesses and the government in encouraging the transition to more environmentally friendly consumption patterns.

Throughout the internship program, all four students actively participated in various academic and field activities, including surveys, data collection, model development, and research report preparation. In addition, they regularly presented their progress to Maria Anityasari as the main academic supervisor. These interactions became valuable discussion sessions to refine their research methodologies while introducing the systems manufacturing approach implemented within ITS. Through this process, the students not only developed technical research skills but also gained insights into how engineering approaches can be applied to solve social and environmental challenges in real-world contexts.

The internship program concluded with a final presentation session held on May 14th, 2026. The event was attended by Prof. Maria Anityasari, the Manufacturing Systems Laboratory assistants, and students from the Sustainable Manufacturing course. During the final presentation, each group presented their research findings, challenges encountered during the project, and implementation recommendations relevant to the context of Surabaya City. The discussions demonstrated how cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaboration can generate fresh perspectives in addressing urban and sustainability-related challenges.

Beyond academic activities, the internship program also served as a platform for cultural exchange between the Swedish students and the ITS academic community. After the final presentation session, all participants attended a group lunch at a restaurant as part of the closing celebration. In a more informal setting, they discussed various topics ranging from their experiences studying in Indonesia, cultural differences between Sweden and Indonesia, to the culture shock they experienced during their stay in Surabaya. This moment highlighted that international collaboration not only broadens academic perspectives but also strengthens intercultural relationships and enriches personal experiences for everyone involved.

With the internship program officially ending on May 15th, 2026, when the four students returned to Sweden, the Manufacturing Systems Laboratory once again demonstrated its role as an international collaboration hub that supports sustainability-oriented research and real-world problem solving. This program not only provided academic benefits for both KTH and ITS students, but also showcased how manufacturing systems approaches can be applied to environmental, transportation, and sustainable consumer behavior issues. Through collaborations like this, the Manufacturing Systems Laboratory continues to contribute to the development of future engineers who are adaptive, innovative, and globally minded in supporting a more sustainable industrial and societal future.