diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index ab66df9..7fc2f6a 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -3,9 +3,15 @@ FROM node:20-alpine AS frontend-builder
 
 WORKDIR /app/frontend
 
-# Copy frontend package files and install ALL dependencies (including devDependencies for build)
+# Copy frontend package files
 COPY frontend/package*.json ./
-RUN npm ci
+
+# Generate lockfile if it doesn't exist, then install dependencies
+RUN if [ ! -f package-lock.json ]; then \
+        echo "Generating package-lock.json..."; \
+        npm install --package-lock-only; \
+    fi && \
+    npm ci
 
 # Copy frontend source and build
 COPY frontend/ ./
@@ -16,9 +22,15 @@ FROM node:20-alpine AS backend-builder
 
 WORKDIR /app/backend
 
-# Copy backend package files and install ALL dependencies (including TypeScript)
+# Copy backend package files
 COPY backend/package*.json ./
-RUN npm ci
+
+# Generate lockfile if it doesn't exist, then install dependencies
+RUN if [ ! -f package-lock.json ]; then \
+        echo "Generating package-lock.json..."; \
+        npm install --package-lock-only; \
+    fi && \
+    npm ci
 
 # Copy backend source and compile TypeScript
 COPY backend/ ./
@@ -29,9 +41,15 @@ FROM node:20-alpine
 
 WORKDIR /app
 
-# Install production dependencies only
+# Copy backend package files
 COPY backend/package*.json ./
-RUN npm ci --only=production && \
+
+# Generate lockfile if it doesn't exist, then install production dependencies only
+RUN if [ ! -f package-lock.json ]; then \
+        echo "Generating package-lock.json..."; \
+        npm install --package-lock-only; \
+    fi && \
+    npm ci --omit=dev && \
     npm cache clean --force
 
 # Copy compiled backend from builder