Nadie te enseña: así crece un ingeniero en manufactura desde cero | Inge Chingón #66

Growing in the industry isn't about having a degree, but about knowing how to navigate the system, learning quickly, and making decisions when no one tells you how. In this episode, I talk with René Barajas Márquez, Operations Manager in Mexicali, to tackle one of the harshest issues faced by thousands of industrial and manufacturing engineers: How do you advance within the plant when there's no mentor, no manual, and everything depends on your judgment? René experienced that beginning—he was handed an area, without guidance, without formal training, without anyone correcting his steps. Today, he manages operations, makes strategic decisions, and understands what makes an engineer valuable on the plant floor. Here, we explore that path: the real one, the tough one, the one few talk about. If you're about to start in the industry or are already experiencing the chaos on the shop floor, this episode can save you years of setbacks and costly lessons. 📘 Recommended Books in this Episode • The Gold Mine – A Novel of Lean Turnaround — Freddy & Michael Ballé • The Lean Manager — Michael & Freddy Ballé Both titles arose from the theme: how to learn to lead, solve problems, and grow within a plant without relying solely on manuals or theory. What you will learn here: • How to survive when you are given an area without training. • Skills that accelerate an engineer's growth. • Business thinking applied to manufacturing. • What an Operations Manager looks for when promoting talent. • How to transition from reactive operator to strategic engineer. ⏱ EPISODE TIMELINE 00:00 – 00:00:40 Welcome and Chapter Context 00:00:51 – 00:01:10 Reference to the Previous Episode with Luis Elizondo 00:00:57 – 00:01:30 Guest Introduction: René Barajas Márquez 00:01:30 – 00:03:00 What an Operations Manager Really Does 00:04:10 – 00:06:10 How He Found an Opportunity in Manufacturing 00:06:08 – 00:07:20 School → Plant Transition: The Unfiltered Truth 00:07:47 – 00:08:20 “This is Your Area… and There’s Nobody to Teach You” 00:09:08 – 00:09:40 “Pay First” Areas and the Weight Operational 00:10:51 – 00:11:10 Is it okay to question formulas and data? Yes. 00:12:30 – 00:15:00 Growth, leadership, and professional judgment 🎓 Become a Badass Engineer: https://zenkai.com.mx