Dr. Fernando Naranjo

Biography

Dr. Fernando Naranjo joined Niagara University in August 2021, as an Assistant Professor of Management, after completing his doctorate degree at Ivey Business School at Western University in Canada. His thesis dissertation entitled “Lean Supply management in the Canadian agri-food sector” explores the implementation of the lean philosophy by agri-food processors. He used a multi-method approach encompassing qualitative and quantitative methods.

As a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship, Dr. Naranjo pursued a dual-degree graduate program at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in the U.S. and received an MBA with a concentration in International Management, as well as an M.S. in Industrial Engineering. Formerly he had obtained a B.S. (Summa Cum Laude) in Mechanical Engineering at the National Polytechnic School in Ecuador.

Before pursuing his doctoral degree, Dr. Naranjo worked in managerial positions in the automotive, consulting and textile industries. He served as General Manager, Supply Chain Manager, and Plant and Operations Manager in multinational companies, such as General Motors and Sara Lee Corp. He has also been part of the Board of Directors of multiple profit and non-profit organizations as well as national professional associations.

His teaching experience started early in his academic career when being invited to collaborate with local private and public universities immediately after his college graduation. Since then, he has taught internationally a variety of courses in the fields of Engineering and Business.

Focus of Teaching

• MGT 673 – Production and Operations Management
• MGT 674 – Strategic Supply Chain Management
• MGT217 – International Management
• MGT314 – Food Supply Chain
• MGT220 – Operations and Supply Chain Management

Current Research

His doctoral thesis presents a novel conceptualization and theorization of lean supply chain management incorporating a contextual contingent framework that integrates supply challenges, performance objectives, and lean pillars. His work includes a Delphi study and multiple case studies and examines the adoption of lean pillars and the deployment of lean concepts, tools, and practices in the Canadian agri-food sector.

His research has appeared in several outlets. It has been published in the International Journal of Operations Management (IJOPM)(forthcoming) and in multiple Proceedings of academic and managerial conferences, such as the Academy of Management (AOM), Production and Operations Management (POMS), International Purchasing and Supply Education and Research Association (IPSERA), International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference (IVBEC), and International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).

Current Involvement

Dr. Fernando Naranjo actively participates in academic conferences to disseminate his research, specifically as a member of the Academy of Management (AOM), Production and Operations Management (POMS), International Purchasing and Supply Education and Research Association (IPSERA), Decision Sciences Institute (DSI), and Alpha Iota Delta Honour Society.

Recently, He has contributed to the Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management (JPSM) and the Business Research Consortium by peer-reviewing academic manuscripts related to Supply Chain Management.

Additionally, at Niagara University, he is part of the Advisory Board of the NU Supply Chain Center of Excellence and the CoBA Curriculum Committee.

Educational Background

• Ph.D. in Management (Ivey Business School at Western University, Canada)
• MBA/MSc Industrial Engineering (Georgia Institute of Technology, USA)
• BSc in Mechanical Engineering (National Polytechnic School, Ecuador)