Lean CI Intern: Lead Improvement Projects

Daikin Applied Americas; Plymouth (MN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hands-on internship experience

Coaching from a Continuous Improvement

Networking with engineers

Measurable project accomplishment

Job summary

Daikin Applied Americas in Plymouth, MN is seeking a Continuous Improvement Engineering Intern for a 12-week program. You will lead a defined improvement project with guidance from a Continuous Improvement Engineer, performing Gemba observations, time studies, and root-cause analysis in a live test facility.

You will build project charters, SIPOC, and final report-outs while collaborating with engineers, technicians, and leadership.

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Communication

Organization

Education

Engineering degree (related)

Tools

Power BI

Power Query

Minitab

SharePoint

Microsoft Lists

Job description

Daikin Applied Americas in Plymouth, MN is seeking a Continuous Improvement Engineering Intern for a 12-week program. You will lead a defined improvement project with guidance from a Continuous Improvement Engineer, performing Gemba observations, time studies, and root-cause analysis in a live test facility.

You will build project charters, SIPOC, and final report-outs while collaborating with engineers, technicians, and leadership.