2024 Steel Intern Scholarships
Gabriel Magana-Rendon
This summer I had the opportunity to work at Ternium Largos Norte Apodaca Plant, located in the borders of San Nicolas de los Garza and Apodaca in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The plant produces long products, specifically rebar.
In this second year as a steel intern, I had the opportunity and the challenge to focus on the finishes area of the plant, with projects and activities where I learned a lot as operation engineer trainee, teamworking mainly with maintenance, operations and operators.
The projects I developed during these weeks were focused to increase the productivity and utilization of the bending machines area of the plant in the production of 3/8” rebars. I made an analysis of the main factors that have been affecting the area in recent months to focus my efforts on those problems that had the greatest impact.
I proposed changes to the time and movement cycles of the bending and tying systems, I made quotations for new equipment and investment projects, I collaborated with the analysis of quotations and technical specifications for new automation technologies for the bending area, and I collaborated with the digitization of some documents used in the plant, among other daily activities.
I was able to apply and improve a lot of my soft skills, mainly leadership, emotional leadership, time management, teamwork, resiliency and critical analysis/thinking.
I had the opportunity to be in constant communication with the maintenance, operations, operators, automation and cranes teams to achieve these challenging goals. This allowed me to learn a lot from every single person that I had the pleasure to meet and collaborate with.
This internship was a very gratifying experience, and I am so grateful for the whole team at the plant for all the help they provided me, for all the knowledge I learned from them and in general for all the opportunities I had in the plant. All these projects wouldn’t be possible without the strong teamwork between multiple areas of the plant.
Finally, I would like to say I am grateful to AIST and Ternium Mexico for this opportunity. This kind of program has a huge impact on the professional development of those who have the chance to be a part of it.