Miguel Zempoaltecatl began his academic career at Instituto Politécnico Nacional in the field of Mechanical Engineering. He continued with his education, completing a postgraduate with international recognition on metallurgy at the CINVESTAV (Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del IPN) and obtaining a master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering.

Miguel is the Advanced Manufacturing Engineer (AME) for heat treatment processes mainly at Nexteer based in Queretaro, Mexico. In this role Miguel works on new projects for the Queretaro site, and is involved in all phases of project development; this includes upgrades and retooling or refurbishing efforts for current machines until new machines can replace older equipment. Miguel also works with suppliers’ development for new techs, new machines, chemicals, devices, etc. needed for certain projects.

Miguel was also senior process engineer for heat treatment processes at Nexteer. In this position Miguel was responsible for heat treatment, NDT, traceability, and washing processes. In these roles, Miguel focused on safety and quality processes, documentation updates, lean manufacturing, improving processes, new launches, and finally he supported the metallurgy laboratory as internal consultant.

Due to his experience in metallurgy and heat treatment, he also collaborates with other plants in the region of Mexico for metallurgical processes to accomplish client safety and quality specifications. Miguel collaborates with suppliers/ vendors of raw material and metalworking fluids such as polymer quenchants used in induction hardening. As senior project engineer for Heat Treatment, Miguel had experience in different metallurgy areas and processes such as hot shearing, forging, aging, tempering, annealing, normalizing, welding processes like a friction, projection and powder, induction hardening, nitriding, carburizing, and quenching.

Additionally, Miguel has an NDT Level II certification for magnetic particle inspection method. He also is skilled in Eddy current, X-ray, ultrasonic, Barkhausen noise inspection, and he is working on developing a “Process Compensated Resonance Testing” method.

Miguel has been active in the heat treating industry for seven years serving at different companies, such as Dana Heavy Axle and Federal Mogul Powertrain. In 2021 he obtained first place in “Champion I&CIM World Cup Awards 2021” for the best project solved using the Red X Methodology. Another recognition is “The Million Award” for reaching $1 million USD or more on savings for the plant on heat treatment improvement projects.

Miguel is known for skills as a leader, such as leading conflict resolution, strategic thinking, team work, and development of new projects, among others. Miguel is skilled in CQI-9 assessment, continuous improvement, root cause analysis, 5S, Six Sigma, Red X Methodology, and lean manufacturing.

Nominated by: Quaker Houghton