Student Assistant - – Continuous Improvement / Lean Operations

IPG Photonics; Birkerød; On-site; DKK 209,000 - 292,000; Full time

Job summary

IPG Photonics in Denmark seeks a motivated student to support Lean continuous improvement initiatives within a high-precision manufacturing environment. You will work with data, perform transactional tasks and help implement standard work and Lean practices on the shop floor.

You will collect and analyze operational data using Excel and Power BI, participate in improvement workshops, and assist with pilots, trials and follow-up actions while developing practical hands-on experience.

Qualifications

• Must be a student in Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management or Data/Business Analytics.
• Analytical and structured approach with interest in how production works.
• Familiarity with Excel; Power BI or ERP/MES experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support Lean data analysis of material flow, lead times, WIP and production performance.
• Collect, structure and analyze operational data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Assist with flow improvement activities and shopfloor initiatives.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Structured approach

Ownership

Curious/proactive

Team collaboration

Education

Industrial Engineering student

Tools

Power BI

Excel

ERP/MES

Job description

Join us to Make an Impact

Innovation is in our DNA. We invented supercontinuum lasers and photonic crystal fibers and we constantly reimagine how our products can be used and improved. Our customers use our products in medical and life science research, quantum computing and space exploration.

We seek curious, creative and collaborative people to work in our cutting-edge company. Can you see yourself working in teams and providing solutions for innovators?

We look forward to hearing from you!

Purpose of the role

Support the Continuous Improvement Engineer in the long-term implementation of Lean principles, with particular focus on making materials flow through the value stream. The role combines data analysis, improvement activities and practical transactional tasks needed to keep improvement initiatives moving.

Typical responsibilities

• Support analysis of material flow, lead times, WIP, inventory and production performance
• Collect, structure and analyse operational data to identify improvement opportunities
• Support flow improvement activities
• Prepare data, presentations and visual management for improvement workshops and shopfloor meetings
• Follow up on improvement actions and ensure that agreed actions are completed
• Perform practical/transactional tasks in ERP, MES, Excel, Power BI or other relevant systems
• Maintain improvement boards, action lists, standards and documentation
• Support implementation and follow-up of standard work and Lean practices
• Help investigate operational problems and gather the facts needed for root-cause analysis
• Assist with pilots, trials and implementation of improvements on the shopfloor
• Ad-hoc analysis and execution tasks as required to support the CI agenda

What we are looking for

• Student within Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Data/Business Analytics or a related field
• Analytical and structured approach, with an interest in understanding how things actually work in a production environment
• Comfortable working with data and Excel; experience with Power BI, ERP/MES (Manufacturing Execution System) or similar systems is an advantage
• Willing to get hands‑on and work both with data and with people on the shopfloor
• Able to take ownership of smaller tasks and drive them to completion
• Curious, proactive and not afraid to ask questions
• Interest in Lean, operational excellence and continuous improvement is an advantage

What we offer

• A hands‑on opportunity to work with Lean transformation in a highly engineered manufacturing environment
• Exposure to the full value stream from planning and material supply through production including especially warehousing and delivery
• Opportunity to work closely with the Continuous Improvement Engineer, Procurement, Warehouse and Production
• Practical experience applying Lean principles rather than only studying them
• A role where the student can gradually take ownership of improvement activities and analysis

The student should be someone who is happy to spend one hour analysing Inventory levels on the Purchased Parts Marked in a spreadsheet and the next hour walking the production floor to understand why. This is NOT a “junior analyst” role. The combination of analysis + transactional execution + shopfloor work is a MUST a Lean transformation.