AIST Foundation Steel Intern Scholarship
Fernanda R. Ibarra Alvarado
During the summer of 2025, I was part of the technology and processes department and was assigned to the annealing area on the Churubusco production line in Monterrey, N.L., Mexico, For two months, I worked alongside my mentor, engineer José Eduardo Solís, on a project focused on comparing process, production, and consumption indicators across different annealing lines, with the goal of streamlining analysis and identifying areas for improvement.
The coils processed on this line are intended for applications such as construction and appliance manufacturing. The thermal treatment they undergo is critical, as it enhances their mechanical properties. Each coil has specific characteristics that must be considered when forming the loads for the ovens, making it essential to thoroughly understand the process—from the moment the coil arrives at the warehouse to the completion of heat treatment and its transfer to the next production stage.
I collaborated with the industrial, operations, and process teams, where furnace operators, process technicians and industrial planning analysts explained the process and helped resolve any questions I had. Additionally, together with the operations engineer, I was responsible for periodically updating the technological PAM, reviewing qualitative data on coils that presented defects, attending safety meetings, and recording MOTS—documents that define the sequence and methodology for executing activities on the line, ensuring worker safety. This gave me the opportunity to interact with more people and understand the importance of performing procedures with complete safety. Another task assigned to me was contributing to the development of an intelligent agent to optimize information searches on production lines, which involved drafting documents that consolidated all the necessary information.
I’m grateful to Ternium México for allowing me to gain firsthand insight into the steel industry and how large-scale industrial processes are developed. I also thank AIST for being the platform that gave me the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, helping me strengthen skills such as communication and data analysis in a real-world setting — skills that will be key in my professional future as I tackle the challenges of modern industry and actively contribute to continuous improvement. Finally, I thank every member of T&P who was always willing to answer my questions, support me and guide me throughout the development of my project.