What is your job about?

Within the foundry there are several work areas and each one has its shift manager. In my case, as general shift manager of the Foundry, I have to control and align in general different areas, such as safety and also the environment. It is something like an orchestra conductor, in charge of general coordination, of minute-by-minute production decisions. In that sense, there is direct contact with the superintendencies and the manager.

We start the day by receiving news from the outgoing shift, followed by a coordination meeting with the different areas, and with this we establish the guidelines for the day.

We see if there is an environmental issue to be resolved, something operational, what equipment is in maintenance or has problems, and so we develop the day-to-day activity. It is very dynamic, we see from one end to the other if there is something in the Acid Plant, then we go to monitor the Oxygen Plant.

On a normal shift there are about 150 people, so there is responsibility for this day to day, the relationship with people is all day long, by phone, by WhatsApp, in the field, by radio, by email...

What do you like most about your job?
Interaction with people. I work in different areas, where different people work. Every day is a challenge and there are a lot of people where you have to deal with priorities, maintenance, production, so it is very dynamic because one moment I can be checking an email and five minutes later I can be checking a problem in the field.

How did you come to El Teniente?

I worked in Rancagua, in a smaller foundry next to El Teniente. While looking for job vacancies, I found an advertisement on a newspaper page. I applied in June 2011 and on August 1 of that year, I started working at the Caletones Foundry. I have been in this same position for 12 years now.

I had been familiar with this position and I liked the interaction with people, making decisions, coordinating. It really caught my attention and arriving here was like being in the major leagues.