Manufacturing Operations Internship (Summer 2027)

Foremost Farms USA; Lancaster (WI); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Housing provided if needed

Hands-on learning experience

Networking with professionals

Job summary

Foremost Farms USA offers a Manufacturing Operations Internship for Summer 2027 at our Lancaster, WI plant. This program provides real-world, hands-on learning with meaningful projects and exposure to seasoned professionals.

Interns work Monday through Friday, may be on-site or hybrid, and earn $20.00 per hour. Open to undergraduates in related fields, with strong communication and organizational skills; June to August availability is required.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program in a related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and other computer applications.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
• Must be available to work from early June 2027 through early to mid-August 2027.
• Based near our Lancaster, WI plant, with willingness to travel to other Foremost plant locations as needed.

Responsibilities

• Preventative Maintenance Optimization: conduct PM deep dive at the Lancaster plant to improve standard work and reduce downtime.
• Production Standard Work: observe roles and develop clear standard work to improve takt time and efficiency across Foremost plants.
• SCORE/Proaction Implementation Support: assist SCORE/Proaction rollout, support problem-solving activities and SOP creation, auditing, and safety observations.

Skills

Strong communication

Microsoft Office

Highly organized

Attention to detail

Education

Undergraduate student (related field)

Job description

About Us

Foremost Farms USA is one of the largest, leading dairy cooperatives in the United States and major dairy food and ingredients manufacturing business. We represent hundreds of Midwest dairy farmer members located in seven Midwest states, and we produce about 500 million pounds of cheese and 50 million pounds of butter in plants across our network every year. "We Bring Dairy to Life" in seven manufacturing plants across Wisconsin and Michigan and in our headquarters in Middleton (Madison), Wisconsin; and we're looking for employees who are innovative and aim for excellence in our wide variety of production, field and business roles. Join us!

About This Opportunity

JOB TITLE: Manufacturing Operations Internship (Summer 2027)
POSITION TYPE: Intern
CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

$20.00 per hour

Monday - Friday, Day Shift

FOREMOST FARMS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

At Foremost, our internship program has two primary goals: bringing fresh ideas and innovative thinking to our organization while providing students with meaningful, hands-on experiences that support their professional and career development.

Our internships are designed around real business needs and meaningful projects that align with each intern's academic background, skills, and career interests. Depending on the role and project, interns may work on-site or in a hybrid environment. Interns have the opportunity to collaborate with experienced professionals, tackle real-world business challenges, and make a meaningful contribution to Foremost's success.

We are committed to creating a supportive, engaging learning environment where interns are encouraged to ask questions, share ideas, and take ownership of their work. Throughout the summer, interns gain valuable professional experience, develop new skills, and build connections that can help prepare them for their future careers.

INTERNSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES & PROJECTS:

As a Foremost intern, you'll have the opportunity to work on strategic, real-world projects that may include:

• Preventative Maintenance Optimization: Conduct a deep dive into Preventive Maintenance (PM) work orders at our Lancaster plant, enhancing PMs to provide clear, comprehensive standard work, identify opportunities to reduce equipment downtime, and develop improvements that could be applied across the Foremost network.
• Production Standard Work: Observe assigned production roles and develop clear Standard Work by analyzing cycle times and their impact on Takt Time, identifying opportunities to adjust tasks and improve efficiency, and supporting improvements that can be replicated across Foremost plants.
• SCORE/Proaction Implementation Support: Support the SCORE/Proaction rollout at our Lancaster plant by learning and supporting the use of Proaction technology, participating in problem-solving activities from 5 Whys to 8D, executing active supervisor tours (ASTs), and supporting standard operating procedure (SOP) creation, auditing, behavior safety observations, and other SCORE initiatives.

BENEFITS OF INTERNING AT FOREMOST:

• Competitive compensation
• Company-provided housing, if needed
• Fun and engaging team building and networking events
• Hands-on, real-world learning experience
• Opportunity to collaborate with experienced professionals and industry leaders
• Opportunity to present your work and project outcomes to Foremost's executive leadership team at the conclusion of your internship

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program in a related field
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and other computer applications
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail
• Must be available to work from early June 2027 through early to mid-August 2027
• Based near our Lancaster, WI plant, with willingness to travel to other Foremost plant locations as needed

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Junior or Senior class standing
• Demonstrated interest in pursuing a career related to the internship

Equal Opportunity Employer

Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled are encouraged to apply.

At Foremost Farms USA, we believe that employee diversity brings strength to our organization. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disabilities, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

Successful completion of pre-employment screening is required, which could include a drug test, background check, and other verifications or assessments to be sure you will be able to succeed in your position.