Ramadan's career at Vetter began in 2022 with an internship in process optimization. "It was my first experience with the pharmaceutical industry," he says. “There the focus was on business process management.” After completing his internship, Ramadan took the initiative to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Vetter; he secured an ambitious thesis in Operational Excellence.
"Why Vetter? I wanted to do my undergraduate thesis in a company. During my internship, I got to know Vetter as an exciting company with a strong commitment to training and development."
Ramadan Alkeefo, Business Administration student
Ramadan Alkeefo, BWL-Student
Quite challenging for a non-scientist
Simply put, Ramadan's undergraduate thesis is about optimizing the injection force of medical syringes used to treat retinal (eye) diseases. For this highly sophisticated product, precision is of the utmost importance. The focus of the thesis was on assessing the exact dimensions of syringe components and the impact this has on the injection forces.
The business administration student needed to be fully briefed on this highly complex and unfamiliar subject. “It was only thanks to Christian that I was able to get an in-depth introduction to a topic that is so specific and so interdisciplinary," reports Ramadan. By Christian, he is referring to Dr. Christian Hotz from the Vetter Optimization System Department, Ramadan’s mentor and research supervisor who provided him with advice and support throughout.
It's apparent to anyone who talks to "Chris" and "Rami” that a remarkably harmonious and trusting relationship has developed during this intensive collaboration. "Christian was always available for impromptu discussions, even beyond the regular weekly meetings. I was also able tap into the expertise of other departments," Ramadan recalls. "This interdisciplinary exchange allowed me to develop a comprehensive perspective."
And the result?
The grade – a 4.0! – of speaks for itself. The thesis also received an award from the European Six Sigma Club Deutschland association. The Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences acknowledged both the thesis and award in a publication. The thesis advisor was very impressed to see a business administration student excelling in such a technical environment.
“The knowledge gained from the thesis resulted in a measurable increase in quality, which has a direct impact on customer satisfaction. In the end, we all benefit: Vetter, Ramadan and the customer.”
Dr. Christian Hotz, Undergraduate Mentor, Vetter Optimization System
Well-looked after
Christian Hotz holds a Black Belt in Six Sigma, a data-driven approach to process optimization and quality improvement. A scientist through and through, he actively takes on leadership roles in improvement projects. The phrase "I think that ..." does not resonate well with him. He loves to let data – one that is as methodically structured and objective as possible – speak for itself. In addition to mentoring undergraduate students, he also gives lectures.
Fully focused on the bachelor thesis!
"What helped me the most? The huge trust that Vetter placed on me, and enough creative freedom in evaluating data, for example, as well as the fact that at Vetter, you won’t be assigned any operational tasks on top of your thesis," says Ramadan. "That means I was able to fully focus on my bachelor's thesis."
Put to good use
The findings of the thesis are not only important for Vetter, but for the entire pharmaceutical industry. Following his bachelor's thesis, Ramadan wrote a paper that was later published in the PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology – one of the most renowned pharmaceutical journals.
What the future holds: Master's thesis, then project assistant at Vetter
"In the end, you become a specialist. That's the path you ought to want to pursue," says Christian Hotz. All of Ramadan Alkeefo’s colleagues had a sense of his high level of motivation. Right now he is writing his master's thesis – supervised again by Christian Hotz. The whole department is already looking forward to its completion, when they can welcome Ramadan Alkeefo as a project assistant.
For college students
Would you also like to do your undergraduate thesis at Vetter?
Whether it's a voluntary internship, a mandatory internship or a thesis – at Vetter, highly skilled coworkers and a wide range of fascinating areas and subjects await you. You then have the option to join our trainee master's program or start your career right away.
