AIST Steel Intern Scholarship
Carlos A. Perez Marquez
During my time as a steel intern at Ternium México in Apodaca, N.L., Mexico. I worked in the scrap yard area at the Largos Norte plant, a completely new and challenging experience. I entered a new area about which I knew little, an EAF that operates 100% with scrap, where my project to reduce interruptions helped me understand how my work directly affected the entire long products manufacturing process.
I was tasked with reducing interruptions caused by doing a few things: crushing the charge, for which I defined densities by scrap family to decrease the charge height and prevent possible damage to the electrodes and EAF vault; unfused charge, where I contributed with research into the ideal arrangement of dense charge to avoid EBT blockage; and charge waiting, where I monitored basket loads to prevent delays in scrap supply to the furnace. Additionally, I tracked previous and potential incidents to take preventive measures and avoid future incidents with high potential risks, as safety is a fundamental aspect of Ternium’s culture.
I’m grateful to my mentor Efraín Lopez and all my teammates at Largos Norte who allowed me to move through different areas interacting with the scrap yard, addressing the questions as they arose, and connecting me with people who had the answers they didn’t. They made me feel welcome, granting me the opportunity to contribute to problem-solving and affording me the freedom to learn about all aspects of the steel mill. While my previous education laid the groundwork, without my time at Ternium I would not have understood the full picture.
I am genuinely thankful to AIST and Ternium for helping me develop as a future professional and affording me the chance to explore all the steel mill areas where I could shape my future.