Lab Continuous Improvement Engineer Intern

Daikin Applied Americas; Plymouth (MN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Daikin Applied Americas invites you to join a 12-week Continuous Improvement Engineering Intern program in Plymouth, Minnesota. You will work with engineers, technicians, and leaders to drive real improvements in safety, quality, and efficiency within an HVAC test facility.

Under guidance from a Continuous Improvement Engineer, you’ll lead a defined project from observation through pilot, measurement, and final presentation, gaining hands-on experience in Lean, PDCA, DMAIC, and process mapping

Qualifications

• Pursuing bachelor’s degree in a technical field (industrial/ manufacturing engineering or related).
• Sophomore–Senior at internship start.
• Proficient with MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word.
• Strong problem-solving, organization, and teamwork.
• Ability to operate safely in an office and lab environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead a scoped improvement project using PDCA or DMAIC.
• Create a project charter, SIPOC, stakeholder map, baseline, root-cause analysis, countermeasure plan, final report.
• Conduct Gemba observations, interviews, time studies, workflow analysis, and process mapping.
• Analyze test readiness, setup, teardown, downtime, and performance metrics.
• Create Pareto charts, trends, Excel tools, dashboards, checklists, and standard work.
• Support a Kaizen or structured problem-solving activity.
• Pilot countermeasures, collect feedback, compare results, identify unintended effects.
• Create a sustainment plan with named owners and follow-up measures.

Skills

Lean

PDCA

DMAIC

Gemba

Process mapping

Time studies

Root-cause analysis

Visual management

Performance measurement

Education

Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering

Tools

Power BI

Power Query

Minitab

SharePoint

Microsoft Lists

Job description

Join the world's largest HVAC company!

Join the world's largest HVAC company!

Daikin Applied is now hiring for a Continuous Improvement Engineering Intern in Plymouth, Minnesota. This 12-week internship offers hands‑on experience in an HVAC/R, chiller, and compressor test facility while supporting improvements that strengthen safety, quality, delivery, cost, test capacity, and employee engagement.

You will work alongside engineers, technicians, laboratory planners, controls and instrumentation specialists, skilled trades, and operational leaders. With guidance from a Continuous Improvement Engineer, you will lead a defined improvement project from initial observation through pilot implementation, measurement, and final presentation.

What's in it for you?

• Own a meaningful, real‑life improvement project that can directly improve Plymouth Test Lab performance.
• Gain practical experience with Lean, PDCA, DMAIC, Gemba, process mapping, time studies, root‑cause analysis, standard work, 5S, visual management, and performance measurement.
• Build relationships with interns and professionals across engineering, test operations, quality, facilities, controls, instrumentation, and skilled trades.
• Receive regular coaching from a Continuous Improvement Engineer and support from experienced technical subject‑matter experts.
• Present your results and recommendations to laboratory leadership and gain a measurable accomplishment for future interviews.
• Explore career paths in continuous improvement, industrial engineering, test engineering, quality, operations, project management, and data analytics.

What You Will Do

• Lead one scoped improvement project using PDCA or DMAIC methodology.
• Develop a project charter, SIPOC, stakeholder map, baseline, root‑cause analysis, countermeasure plan, and final report‑out.
• Conduct Gemba observations, employee interviews, time studies, workflow analysis, and current‑state/future‑state process mapping.
• Analyze test readiness, setup, teardown, turnover, downtime, lost test hours, action aging, or other operational measures.
• Create Pareto charts, trends, Excel tools, dashboards, checklists, standard work, visual controls, or process‑confirmation methods.
• Support a focused Kaizen or structured problem‑solving activity.
• Pilot practical countermeasures, collect employee feedback, compare before‑and‑after results, and identify unintended effects.
• Create a control and sustainment plan with named owners, review cadence, and follow‑up measures.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Quality Engineering, Operations Management, Data Analytics, or a related technical field.
• Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing at the start of the internship.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and communicate information.
• Strong problem‑solving, organization, collaboration, and follow‑through skills.
• Ability to work safely in both an office and active industrial laboratory environment.
• Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or project experience involving Lean, Six Sigma, PDCA, DMAIC, statistics, quality engineering, operations research, or project management.
• Familiarity with SIPOC, process mapping, time studies, Pareto analysis, 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, standard work, 5S, or visual management.
• Experience with Power BI, Power Query, Minitab, SharePoint, Microsoft Lists, or similar analytical tools.
• Previous manufacturing, laboratory, maintenance, engineering, technical‑club, or student design‑team experience.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of pre‑employment requirements, including verification of employment history, education, background screening, and drug testing where permitted by law. Safety‑sensitive positions may require cannabis (marijuana) testing. All testing and employment decisions will comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

If you're looking for an engaging career with growth opportunities in a supportive environment, you'll love a career at Daikin Applied!