About me

 

Bridging Industry and Academia: A Personal Journey into Inventory Optimization and Sustainable Supply Chains

My name is Verónica González, and I bring with me 24 years of experience in the private sector, primarily in operations. I have held positions as Production Manager and, more recently, as Head of Planning and Warehouse Management. My academic background is in Business Administration and Management, a degree I obtained from the University of Burgos.

In 2022, I returned to the University of Burgos, this time not as a student but as a faculty member in the Department of Business Organization, where I currently teach in the MBA program at the Faculty of Economics. I am responsible for the course “Logistics and Supply Chain Management” and also serve as a supervisor for several MBA final thesis projects.

Encouraged by one of my former professors—now a valued colleague—I took the leap into research and began my doctoral studies in Engineering at the School of Industrial Engineering (Escuela Politécnica), also at the University of Burgos.

My research focuses on one of the most persistent and complex challenges in operations management: inventory control. Years of experience in the private sector have exposed me to the inefficiencies and losses caused by poor stock management. The issue goes beyond financial waste; it is also an environmental concern. Inadequate inventory levels lead to overproduction, unnecessary storage, and excessive transportation—all of which contribute significantly to a company’s carbon footprint.

The objective of my research is to develop and apply optimization methodologies that reduce waste while aligning stock levels more effectively with actual demand. By doing so, we can create more efficient and sustainable supply chains—where environmental impact is minimized, and resource use is optimized.

To this end, I have begun working with advanced tools such as CPLEX (for mathematical optimization) and Simio (for simulation modeling), which allow me to test and refine various approaches in a controlled, replicable environment.

As my research progresses, I am actively seeking collaboration with fellow researchers, professionals, and academics who share an interest in optimization, sustainability, and supply chain innovation. I believe that bridging the gap between academic research and real-world application is crucial to driving meaningful change in today’s global supply networks.

If you are interested in contributing, exchanging ideas, or simply following this journey, I invite you to connect. Together, we can explore new pathways to smarter and more sustainable logistics.