Intern - Operations/Production Management (Summer 2027)

Plexus Corp.; Lincolnshire (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Retirement savings plan

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Plexus Corp. in Illinois seeks a Production Management Intern to support daily leadership and oversight in a high-volume manufacturing setting. You will work with Production Managers and Factory Supervisors on KPI tracking, scheduling, and Lean initiatives to improve OTD and efficiency.

This non-exempt internship offers hands-on learning, exposure to GEMBA walks, 6S improvements, and opportunities for professional development within a global manufacturing organization.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field.
• GPA 3.0+ preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects or teams through academic or extracurricular activities.
• Experience with PCB SMT, Lean, or Quality Systems is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist production management with KPI tracking and planning.
• Support LEAN initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Participate in GEMBA walks and 6S floor layout improvements.
• Coordinate training and cross-training to support labor flexibility.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Communication

Adaptability

Technical Proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management/Supply Chain/Engineering

Tools

PCB SMT

Lean Manufacturing

Quality Systems

Job description

About us: At Plexus, our vision is to help create the products that build a better world. Driven by a passion for excellence, we partner with leading Aerospace/Defense, Healthcare/Life Sciences and Industrial companies to design, manufacture and service some of the world’s most transformative products, including advanced surgical systems, diagnostic instruments, healthcare imaging equipment, mission critical aerospace systems, and electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions. Visit Plexus.com to learn more about our unwavering commitment to our vision.When we invest in our people, we invest in building a better world.With a vision rooted in the wellbeing and inclusive engagement of our team members, our customers, their end users and our communities, people are the heart of what we do and who we are. It is our values that unite us and guide us in everything that we do, including how we operate, behave and interact to foster a workplace where every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.Our values include: Growing our People, Building Belonging, Innovating Responsibly, Delivering Excellence and Creating Customer Success.As a team member, you will engage in impactful work through global collaboration and the use of emerging technologies, join an inclusive culture where every team member is valued and working toward a greater purpose, and be empowered to reach your full potential through various development programs designed to accelerate your growth.Plexus offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support team members' wellbeing, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, retirement savings, and opportunities for professional development. We also prioritize work-life balance and offer a variety of perks to enhance the team member experience. For more information, visit our US benefits website at usbenefits.plexus.com. Our commitment to pay range transparency fosters an equitable workplace, where everyone can feel valued. This is an internship position (Non-Exempt Salary); the hourly range is stated below. The rate offered within this range will be based upon the geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level. Hourly Rate:$22 - $26/hr.OVERVIEWThe Production Management Intern provides support to the Production Manager and Factory Supervisors in the daily leadership and operational oversight of a specific market sector. This role offers students hands-on experience in high-intensity manufacturing leadership, with a focus on product quality, on-time delivery (OTD), and factory efficiency. The intern will report to a member of the site leadership team, such as a Production Manager or Focus Factory Manager.RESPONSIBILITIESI. Operational Excellence and KPI ManagementPerformance Tracking: Assist in monitoring and reporting on key manufacturing metrics, including On-Time Delivery (OTD), scrap reduction, yield, and overall productivity.Production Planning: Participate in the review of daily and weekly production targets and schedules, and support capacity analysis to meet business objectives.Operational Meetings: Attend and contribute to Operation Review meetings and shift handoff sessions to understand critical production needs and equipment status.Administrative Support: Maintain accurate records of production output, quality checks, and equipment status.Communication: Coordinate with production associates, leads, and operations managers to ensure production goals are consistently met.II. Continuous Improvement and LEAN InitiativesLEAN Support: Assist in the implementation of LEAN projects aimed at improving labor efficiency and waste reduction.Factory Standards: Participate in GEMBA tours and support the execution of 6S improvement plans for optimized floor layouts.Process Improvement: Identify bottlenecks in production and propose data-driven solutions for efficiency. Utilize lean manufacturing principles to drive focus factory performance.III. Quality Assurance and ComplianceQuality Standards: Assure that product and process quality is compliant with internal, industry, and customer quality standards (e.g., IPC Standards, ISO, GMP).Defect Management: Support Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations for defects or rejects produced during manufacturing cycles.Safety Protocols: Monitor the production floor to ensure adherence to workplace health and safety (EHS) and RBA compliance.IV. Resource and Team Leadership SupportLabor Planning: Shadow management to learn effective direct labor staffing and the development of results-focused teams.Training Coordination: Assist in identifying training needs and monitoring the cross-training progress of manufacturing teams to ensure labor flexibility.Communication: Facilitate clear information transfer between shifts and support open communication within the focus factory.Required SkillsAnalytical Skills: Proficiency in data analysis to assist in LCM forecasting, metric reporting, and capacity analysis.Problem Solving: Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on root cause analysis (e.g., 8D or similar methodologies).Communication: Professional written and verbal communication skills for effective interaction across site associates and management.Adaptability: Ability to handle complex manufacturing issues in a fast-paced environment.Technical Proficiency: Knowledge of lean and six sigma concepts.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONSStudent working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field for entire duration of internship.PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONSJunior level status or higher.GPA: 3.0 or higher is preferred.PCB Assembly processes (SMT), Lean Manufacturing, and Quality Systems.Demonstrated ability to lead projects or teams through academic or extracurricular activities.Excellent organizational skills.Physical Requirements:N/ATravel Requirements:N/AThis document does not represent a contract of employment and is not intended to capture every possible assignment the incumbent could be asked to perform.We are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities or special requirements. If you need an application accommodation, please contact us by email at [e-mail]. Please include your contact information and clearly describe how we can help you. This email is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.Some offers of employment are contingent upon successfully passing a drug screen and/or background check.