Alumni Success Story - Fernando Muñoz, MDSC 2005

Alumni Success Story - Fernando Muñoz, MDSC 2005 and Industrial Director at EQUIMODAL. See profile on Linkedin

"I found myself in Zaragoza during a period of rapid growth in the logistics sector. My project director provided valuable advice and ignited my passion for logistics. It became evident that pursuing the Master’s program at ZLC was the best choice for my career."

What motivated you to study the Master’s in Supply Chain Management at Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC)?

It was a series of coincidences that led me to make one of the best decisions of my life. It happened that I finished my degree after specializing in industrial organization, and I was clear that I wanted to further my education, especially in this field. It also coincided with a period when logistics in Zaragoza was booming. I met a project director (Jesús Royo) who guided, advised, and, above all, sparked my interest in logistics from a more global perspective of supply chain control. Not to mention the encouragement and advice from my parents to continue my education—it was clear that studying the Master’s at ZLC was the best option.

How was your transition into the workforce after completing the Master’s at ZLC, and what led you to focus more on factory operations and production?

My first contact with the professional world came through the Master’s internship program. After a few months interning in the production department, I was offered the opportunity to join the logistics department. While I enjoyed logistics, I was much more drawn to factory operations. Since childhood, I preferred dismantling toys and extracting motors for inventions rather than playing with the toys themselves. I loved tinkering, inventing, dismantling, watching my father weld—it was clear to me that I wanted to work in a factory. For six years, I worked as a manufacturing manager at an SME and then spent 12 years at a multinational company. In October 2022, I joined Equimodal’s team.

Integration between areas (production, logistics, suppliers) is essential. How can communication and collaboration be optimally managed to achieve an agile and coordinated supply chain?

Integration between departments is not only essential; at Equimodal, we design, manufacture, certify, and integrate containers, swap bodies, and containerized solutions for intermodal transport and various logistical, industrial, energy, or emergency applications. We specialize in ETO (Engineering-to-Order) solutions and are closely integrated with our clients’ engineering departments.

The secret of Equimodal lies in its TEAM—a highly qualified group combining experience with youth that makes us agile, decisive, and innovative.

Currently, you work as Industrial Director at Equimodal, a Spanish company specializing in intermodal containers, swap bodies, and containerized solutions. What strategies are used to manage material flow within the factory, especially considering large-scale box production?

Our strategy begins with design and is reinforced during the industrialization phase of our containers. As engineers within the engineering, logistics, and production teams, we not only address client needs but also design containers to optimize designs, materials, logistics processes, and manufacturing methods.

We work closely with our suppliers—key contributors to our success—who help provide optimal solutions and support our strategies. In the factory setting, we operate with virtually no stock; we rely on strong planning systems, material identification processes, compliance from both our team and collaborators—and despite working with parts measuring 12–20 meters—we maintain agility.

Could you share a specific example where adapting to a global challenge improved Equimodal’s operational efficiency?

It’s hard to pinpoint one specific example since we constantly strive to reinvent ourselves for greater efficiency. However, during the surge in energy costs, we were forced to optimize our processes. We analyzed and redesigned workflows, identified bottlenecks, revamped layouts, saturated critical stations, improved material flows, enhanced team training—and ultimately doubled the factory’s capacity per shift. We managed to produce in one shift what previously took two shifts. Now we’re working on further improvements to double current production per shift.

Recently Equimodal developed a circularity passport to certify container sustainability. Can you explain how this passport works and its impact on the industry?

This passport is based on three principles: eco-design throughout the value chain; quality that extends the lifespan of our products; and the use of recoverable materials that can either be reincorporated into production chains or returned to nature.

For the industry as a whole, this may pose challenges such as finding new suppliers or sourcing certain materials—it requires effort and dedication—but for us it’s a source of pride and commitment. As we say at Equimodal: “We reduce the planet’s burden,” because not everything is acceptable.

What skills do you consider essential for someone in your position?

You’ve saved the toughest question for last!

Social skills are essential—we work with people—and teamwork is key to success. I’m fortunate to have an amazing team and colleagues. Beyond that: analytical thinking; planning with both short- and long-term vision; proactivity; agility; decisiveness; commitment—but above all—you must enjoy it! You need passion for factory work, adaptability to change and challenges; being a problem-solver; and above all having enthusiasm and drive!