Please, introduce yourself.
My name is Diego Roy Lopez from Spain.
What is your current profession?
I am currently working as a Supply Chain Performance Enhancement Engineer for the Inventory & Planning team at Nissan Motor Corporation in Paris, France.
Could you explain your job responsibilities?
My role is to manage and report all Nissan Europe inventories and stock, and to coordinate logistics (to improve on-time delivery of vehicles) and business continuity, by leading and coordinating process and systems improvement in my department.
What is your professional background?
My core studies were done in Spain, as an Industrial Design and Product Development Engineer. Then I worked for 3 years, designing ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles), underwater machinery or ground support equipment, for civil & military aircraft.
Why did you choose the Sustainable Industrial Engineering Master’s specifically and how did you hear about it?
After my previous job experiences, I felt I wanted to be more in touch with the world of the supply chain. I checked out Master's courses at universities in several countries (Sweden, Finland and France). Finally I decided to apply for the Grenoble INP - Génie Industriel Master's Degree, because it is linked to Supply Chain studies, they made the application process easy to follow, and I met people (who had already studied on this Master’s) who recommended it to me.
In your opinion, what are the main strengths of the Sustainable Industrial Engineering Master’s program?
The main advantages of the Master’s degree are that it is not focused just on a single idea and has a broad range of courses. You will be able to find courses to develop your skills in manufacturing, and also in management or sustainability regulations.
What was the most challenging course or project you had at Génie Industriel?
I have to say, two courses were quite challenging, in fact. First "Production and Operations Management", where you go into all the detail of how to manage and control line production. Then, "Sustainable Manufacturing" in the second year, which is a course intrinsically related to research. In both cases, you are pushed to develop new skills, leave your comfort zone and control your study and work times.
How did this Master’s prepare you for your career?
In my case, coming from a non-French country, it helps to know that you will always find courses and help to learn French, while studying at the university. On top of that, the wide variety of courses will provide you with skills which will enable you to work in almost all engineering environments, from workshop to office, in different areas such as manufacturing, management, logistics or even, if it pleases you, to carry on your studies as a postgraduate researcher.
What do you think about the way of life in Grenoble and its area?
Grenoble is a city where you can enjoy a young and relaxed atmosphere on one of the largest campuses in France. There are a lot of winter activities (skiing, skating, hockey...), and with many interesting regions and countries nearby.
Do you have an anecdote about your experience of studying here?
In the first year, during a trip to Lausanne with two classmates from the Master’s, we arrived at the Swiss border where the police stopped the bus and began to ask for documents. While the policemen were reviewing the documentation of the other passengers, we exchanged our passports and began to try to read what they put on them, since each one was written in different languages. The problem came because we were reading aloud. The police officers were alarmed and came running to ask for our documents, however none of us had our own passports. We tried to explain what was happening, but it was difficult as none of us spoke much French. Luckily for us, Swiss police officers are pretty nice and they speak English too. A tip for those who come, is that before traveling to Switzerland or within France, learn a little French, and do not mess up with your documents at the borders.
What advice would you give to a student from your country who would like to come and study here?
I think it is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge, travel, meet a lot of people and develop a new career within Europe. Also, I would suggest trying to speak less loudly, as I realized we southern Europeans speak louder than the average in France.
Diego Roy Lopez graduated in 2019.
