RESEARCH PROFILE

Ton de Kok is a part-time Full Professor holding the chair of Quantitative analysis of logistical management problems in the section Operations, Planning, Accounting and Control at TU/e. He is Director of CWI in Amsterdam. His primary research areas are Supply Chain Management and Concurrent Engineering with an emphasis on quantitative analysis. His research results have been successfully tested and implemented in a multitude of projects with industry. Algorithms for computing inventory control parameters have been implemented at over 20 companies as an outcome of MSc projects. A simple formula to determine the output of an assembly line has been used at Nedcar to redesign the final assembly of cars. Ton's research focus is on SCM in Configure-To-Order supply chains and SCM in process industry.

Over the last 30 years Ton developed various software tools that enable effective management of operations in the context of inventory management, supply chain management and project management. These software tools and further explanation of the background of their development and applications in practice can be found at Operations Education

Over the years, I have found that our research helps translate today’s exceptions into tomorrow’s routines. That leaves more time for people in practice to reflect and work on challenging projects.”

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Ton de Kok received his PhD from the Free University of Amsterdam in 1985, after which he joined the Philips Electronics Centre for Quantitative Methods (CQM. In 1990, he became  Manager Logistics Innovation of Philips and a Certified Fellow in Production and Inventory Management (CFPIM) of the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). In 1991 he was appointed part-time professor in Industrial Mathematics at TU/e and he has been a full time professor Operations Management since 1992. Previously, he was also head of Operations Planning, Accounting, and Control at TU/e. Since October 1, 2020, he is Director of CWI in Amsterdam.

Ton has been a teaching professor at Boston University Brussels from 1990-1992, VLM (Logistics Management Association) board member and Scientific Director of research school Beta. He has published numerous articles and has been a (keynote) speaker at a wide variety of schools and events.

Ancillary Activities

  • Directeur, Centrum voor Wiskunde en Informatica