Two Guatemalan students, Kenneth Monterroso and Juan Fernando Zúñiga, Industrial Engineering majors and recipients of the University Scholarship Program of the Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation (FJBG), earned second place in the first round of the 2025 Winter Simulation Challenge. This international competition brings together universities from multiple countries to focus on innovation and industrial optimization.
This achievement reaffirms the academic excellence of the scholarship recipients and reflects the impact of FJBG’s commitment, as the social arm of CMI, Corporación Multi Inversiones, to developing young leaders who contribute to the country’s sustainable development. Under the leadership of Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga, President Chairman of CMI Foods and President of the Foundation, the program continues to demonstrate how education can transform lives and open global opportunities.
Innovation and Guatemalan Talent in Action
In the first phase of the competition, the team from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, which includes Kenneth and Juan Fernando, developed a project to optimize port operations using a simulation environment. The challenge involved designing a strategy to efficiently allocate docks, cranes, container yards, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in order to reduce waiting times and improve productivity.
To achieve this, the students implemented a heuristic model based on defined rules and parameters that balanced workloads and prevented bottlenecks. The proposal was tested across 250 different scenarios, demonstrating its technical strength and practical application potential.
Key tools used included:
- Python programming to model processes and scenarios.
- Statistical analysis to validate results and optimize resources.
- Artificial intelligence applied to decision making.
- Continuous improvement methodologies, essential in industrial engineering.
Discipline, Learning, and Purpose
The scholarship recipients shared that the experience represented both academic and personal growth. They agreed that their education has provided a strong foundation for addressing complex problems, while also strengthening soft skills such as discipline, teamwork, and effective communication.
“It was essential to complement what we learned in class with independent research and extensive practice, especially in simulation and data analysis,” they said. They added that this achievement represents both a personal milestone and an opportunity to inspire other young people in Guatemala.
The leadership of Juan José Gutiérrez Mayorga, as President of the Juan Bautista Gutiérrez Foundation and President Chairman of CMI Foods, has ensured the continuity of educational programs that promote comprehensive development and the formation of students with high academic potential. Through this commitment, the Foundation aims for each scholarship recipient to become an agent of change who contributes to the progress of their communities.