Luna N. Mancilla Guillermo
Ternium Mexico
My first experience in the steel industry marked an important phase of growth for me. Returning to Ternium a year later meant coming back with a new perspective, more knowledge, and new expectations. What remained unchanged was my enthusiasm for continuing to learn, taking on new challenges, and continuing to grow both professionally and personally.
My time at Ternium began on 8 June 2026, and lasted 2 months. During this time, I worked in the operations department at Hot Rolling 2 (MC2) under the mentorship of Eduardo Pérez Cavazos, senior operations manager, and Jalil Yussef Reyes Del Valle, operations manager for Hot Rolling 2 at the Guerrero plant, with the support of the MC2 processes, operations and maintenance teams.
During the first week of my internship, I participated in a training program focused on Ternium’s safety standards, acquiring the knowledge necessary to work safely within the facilities. By reviewing documentation, procedures and technical information, I gradually came to understand the department’s processes, objectives and challenges, which allowed me to build a solid foundation for the activities I would later carry out. In addition, I toured the various areas with which I would be interacting during my stay; this helped me become familiar with the environment and understand how the different processes fit together within the operation.
The main objective of my internship was to carry out a project focused on analyzing surface defects in hot rolling (LAC), using data from the Parsytec system, process parameters, and visual inspections to strengthen monitoring within the operation and identify defects that were causing issues in subsequent processes. To better understand the dynamics of the area and the monitoring of these events, I attended the daily MC2 performance meetings, where the operations, process and maintenance departments reviewed the main operational developments, as well as each team’s activities and pending tasks. I also had the opportunity to join the inspection booth with the quality inspectors, where I learned about the operation of the Parsytec system and observed both physical and automated inspections. Based on this experience, I identified several opportunities for improvement related to defect prevention and information management, so I developed a catalog of surface defects to complement the one already in place at Ternium, which served as a resource for retraining on the Parsytec system.
In addition, I helped implement tools designed to control, track, visualize and monitor the information generated during inspections, using automated databases and digital records that improved the identification and analysis of detected defects and enabled more efficient management of relevant events within the department. These activities helped me understand that behind every defect exists a collaborative effort involving different departments to analyze information, follow up on findings and make decisions that help maintain product quality. At the same time, I reinforced the importance of safety as a fundamental value that guides every activity at Ternium and enables a reliable, people-centered operation.
The best experiences aren’t always the easiest ones, but rather those that challenge us to grow, adapt and discover what we’re capable of — that was, without a doubt, one of the most important lessons I took away from this experience. I sincerely thank AIST for once again giving me the opportunity to be part of such an enriching experience. Over the past few months, I had the opportunity to learn from professionals with extensive experience and to tackle challenges that enriched my professional development.
This experience confirmed for me that the steel industry is a field full of opportunities for those who are curious to learn, determined to grow and willing to take on new challenges. Knowing that there are initiatives that promote and support greater participation by women makes this experience even more valuable, because they not only open doors but also inspire new generations to trust in their skills, provide new perspectives and build their own path in the industry.