diff --git a/company-explorer/Dockerfile b/company-explorer/Dockerfile
index 0d48c3b8..290fa67b 100644
--- a/company-explorer/Dockerfile
+++ b/company-explorer/Dockerfile
@@ -1,33 +1,49 @@
 # --- STAGE 1: Build Frontend ---
 FROM node:20-slim AS frontend-builder
 WORKDIR /build
+# Use --no-cache and clear npm cache to keep this layer small if needed, 
+# although it's a build stage.
 COPY frontend/package*.json ./
-RUN npm install
+RUN npm install --no-audit --no-fund
 COPY frontend/ ./
-RUN grep "ROBOTICS EDITION" src/App.tsx || echo "Version string not found in App.tsx"
 RUN npm run build
 
 # --- STAGE 2: Backend Builder ---
 FROM python:3.11-slim AS backend-builder
 WORKDIR /app
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y build-essential && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+
+# Install only the bare essentials for building Python wheels
+RUN apt-get update && \
+    apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends build-essential gcc && \
+    rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+
 COPY requirements.txt .
-RUN pip install --user --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt
+# Install to /install to easily copy to final stage
+RUN pip install --no-cache-dir --prefix=/install -r requirements.txt
 
 # --- STAGE 3: Final Runtime ---
 FROM python:3.11-slim
 WORKDIR /app
 
-# Copy only installed packages from backend-builder
-COPY --from=backend-builder /root/.local /root/.local
-ENV PATH=/root/.local/bin:$PATH
+# Set non-interactive to avoid prompts
+ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
 
-# Copy Built Frontend from Stage 1 (To a safe location outside /app)
+# Minimal runtime system dependencies (if any are ever needed)
+# Currently none identified from requirements.txt that need system libs on slim
+RUN apt-get update && \
+    apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends curl && \
+    apt-get clean && \
+    rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* /tmp/* /var/tmp/*
+
+# Copy only the installed Python packages
+COPY --from=backend-builder /install /usr/local
+ENV PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH
+
+# Copy Built Frontend
 COPY --from=frontend-builder /build/dist /frontend_static
 
-# Copy Backend Source
+# Copy only necessary Backend Source
 COPY backend ./backend
-COPY backend/tests /app/backend/tests
 
 # Environment Variables
 ENV PYTHONPATH=/app
@@ -36,5 +52,5 @@ ENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
 # Expose Port
 EXPOSE 8000
 
-# Start FastAPI
-CMD ["uvicorn", "backend.app:app", "--host", "0.0.0.0", "--port", "8000", "--reload"]
\ No newline at end of file
+# Start FastAPI (Production mode without --reload)
+CMD ["uvicorn", "backend.app:app", "--host", "0.0.0.0", "--port", "8000"]
\ No newline at end of file