Relevance of the Specialization in Intelligent Logistics Systems at the Instituto Tecnológico de Colima, Mexico: Institutional Capacities, Regional Geoeconomic Context and Strategic Foresight
José de Jesús Amezcua Vivas *
Department of Industrial Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Colima, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Av. Tecnológico No. 1, C.P. 28976, Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico.
Pedro Itzvan Silva Medina
Department of Industrial Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Colima, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Av. Tecnológico No. 1, C.P. 28976, Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico.
Johann Mejías Brito
Department of Industrial Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Colima, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Av. Tecnológico No. 1, C.P. 28976, Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico.
Miguel Escamilla López
Department of Industrial Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Colima, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Av. Tecnológico No. 1, C.P. 28976, Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico.
Jesús Francisco Tejeda Castrejón
Department of Industrial Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Colima, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Av. Tecnológico No. 1, C.P. 28976, Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study assessed the relevance of the Specialization in Intelligent Logistics Systems within the Industrial Engineering programme at the Instituto Tecnológico de Colima, Mexico, by examining institutional capacity in relation to the Manzanillo port-logistics context.
Study Design: A convergent mixed-methods case study.
Place and Duration of Study: Instituto Tecnológico de Colima, January–June 2026.
Methodology: The analysis triangulated an institutional capacity study covering four student cohorts, faculty profiles and infrastructure; a ten-item questionnaire completed by 438 of 460 active students (95.2% coverage); port and regional economic statistics for 2020–2024; and literature published during 2021–2026. Institutional and survey indicators were examined descriptively.
Results: Across the four cohorts, the mean course failure rate was 13.7%, the dropout rate declined from 18.5% to 12.0%, and the graduation rate rose from 52% to 62%. Logistics was the leading first-choice specialisation (27.4%), while 78.1% of respondents reported high employment expectations. Of 17 core faculty members, 88.2% had previous industrial experience. The principal technological shortfall was limited access to Logistics 4.0 tools, including warehouse management and supply chain analytics systems.
Conclusion: The findings indicate alignment between the specialisation, student interest and the regional logistics context, while identifying a need for technological updating. A five-measure action plan for 2026–2029 is proposed, with indicators to monitor implementation.
Keywords: Logistics engineering, industrial engineering, curricular relevance, technological higher education, port cluster, regional competitiveness, intelligent logistics