Continuous Improvement Internship

KLN Family Brands; Perham (MN); On-site; USD 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

KLN Family Brands is seeking a Continuous Improvement Intern for the summer of 2027 at our Perham, MN facility. You will work closely with the Continuous Improvement Manager and cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, support operational excellence, and learn lean manufacturing principles.

The internship runs for 10–12 weeks, requiring a junior in Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering, and on-site collaboration.

Qualifications

• Must be a current college junior pursuing Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering.
• Willingness to learn and work in a team environment.
• Interest in continuous improvement and Lean manufacturing principles.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate across departments to identify improvement opportunities and support operational excellence while maintaining food safety.
• Attend and participate in tier meetings throughout the day.
• Support and lead continuous improvement projects, data collection, and process improvements.
• Participate in trainings and cross-functional projects supporting key business priorities.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Data collection

Cross-functional collaboration

Root cause analysis

Education

Junior in college (Industrial/Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineering)

Job description

KLN Family Brands/Tuffy's Pet Foods

College Juniors and Seniors…We’re looking for you!

Our Story

KLN Family Brands is a 3 rd generation family-owned business that started in 1964 with its corporate headquarters located in Perham, MN, in the heart of MN lakes country. Together, our companies manufacture a diverse and expanding range of high-quality human and pet food products.

At KLN Family Brands, our vision is that “We are a proud people-first company. We are successful because of trust-based relationships, and first-rate products for our families and friends. We better the world by caring for others. We challenge. We grow. We inspire.”

Some companies have to “fudge the story” a little. Some need the extra “spin” to shine a positive light on themselves. That’s not who we are at KLN Family Brands, and that’s not what we do. We tell the story of our brand – our people , the quality & safety of our products, our tradition & trust , our bold innovation , and the way we treat our community & beyond . We do it in a genuine way because we genuinely believe we’re a pretty amazing company.

We’re looking for a Continuous Improvement Intern for the summer of 2027 that is serious about a career in manufacturing. If you are willing to learn from the best and have a desire to participate in the growth of some of the fastest growing brands in the pet food industry, you’ve stumbled upon the right job.

The Opportunity

As a Continuous Improvement Intern, you’ll work closely with our Continuous Improvement Manager and various other team members.

Daily Duties And Responsibilities

• Collaborate with employees across multiple departments to identify improvement opportunities, solve problems, and support operational excellence initiatives while maintaining food safety practices


• Attend and participate in tier meetings throughout the day


• Support and lead continuous improvement projects, including Just Do It (JDI) initiatives, data collection efforts, process improvement activities, and operational excellence projects identified through tier meetings and business priorities


• Participate in meetings, training sessions, and cross-functional projects that support strategic business initiatives and continuous improvement objectives

Unique Project

• Continuous Improvement Project


• Lead and complete a meaningful improvement project that addresses a business need


• Projects may focus on waste reduction, cost savings, process optimization, workplace organization (5S), equipment implementation support, operational data analysis, or other strategic improvement opportunities


• Present project results, recommendations, and measurable outcomes to business leaders at the conclusion of the internship

You Will Learn Things Like

• Innovation and creativity


• Project management, timeline ownership, and follow-through


• Goal setting, KPI, and performance measurement


• Data collection, analysis, and business case development


• Root cause analysis and structured problem solving


• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles


• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement


• Oral and written communication


• Teamwork and leadership

What You’ll Need to Be Successful at KLN Family Brands/Tuffy’s Pet Foods :

• At least a Junior in college pursuing a degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering


• The ability to dedicate 10-12 weeks to the internship program for the summer of 2027


• A positive attitude and willingness to learn


• The ability to work in a team atmosphere and be a great co-worker


• The ability to work on-site at our Perham, MN facility for the summer

Compensation

The starting hourly rate of pay is $17.94 and will be a percentage of industry standards based on typical full‑time starting salaries, and will depend on your year in school and timeline to graduation.

Potential

Interns who demonstrate exceptional performance and a passion for our business may have the opportunity for full‑time employment upon graduation.