Operational Excellence -Industrial Engineer Co-Op

Large Privately-owned Family Company; Flowood (MS); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Ergon, Inc. is seeking an Industrial Engineer Co-Op to join our Operational Excellence team in Flowood, MS.

This temporary, full-time co-op position begins January 2028 and offers hands-on experience evaluating and improving production processes across manufacturing, industrial, and office environments. The role focuses on human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics, cost analysis, and production coordination, with opportunities to contribute to efficiency, quality,

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled as a sophomore or higher in an Industrial & Systems Engineering degree program.
• Demonstrated project leadership skills.
• Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work directly with diverse groups across manufacturing, industrial, and office environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software products.
• Ability to travel.

Responsibilities

• Assist with designing layouts of equipment, materials, and workspaces to maximize efficiency and assist with implementing recommended changes.
• Apply tools and techniques to improve process capability, eliminate defects, improve on-time delivery, and achieve cost-saving targets.
• Facilitate and support the use of Lean Manufacturing methodologies throughout production activities and work processes.
• Participate in cross-functional project teams focused on continuous quality improvement.
• Conduct time, motion, capacity, and utilization studies.
• Identify, analyze, and implement improvements related to cost, quality, workflow, and delivery.
• Participate in assigned Operational Excellence projects.
• Organize information and complete customer writing deliverables in accordance with Ergon Procedure Writer's Guide requirements.
• Confer with customers and/or subject matter experts to determine technical content and subject material.
• Edit and revise technical, operational, or administrative documents prepared by other writers.

Skills

Project leadership

Teamwork

Communication

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Travel flexibility

Education

Industrial & Systems Engineering degree program

Sophomore or higher

Tools

Microsoft Office

AutoCAD

Job description

Operational Excellence -Industrial Engineer Co-Op

Ergon, Inc. is seeking an Industrial Engineer Co-Op to join our Operational Excellence team. This temporary, full-time co-op position beginning January 2028 provides an opportunity to gain hands‑on experience evaluating and improving integrated systems used to manage industrial production processes.

The Industrial Engineer Co-Op will support initiatives involving human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination. This role will work across manufacturing, industrial, and office environments and participate in projects focused on improving efficiency, quality, workflow, delivery, and overall operational performance.

Education & Minimum Qualifications

• Currently enrolled as a sophomore or higher in an Industrial & Systems Engineering degree program.
• Demonstrated project leadership skills.
• Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to work directly with diverse groups across manufacturing, industrial, and office environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software products.
• Ability to travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of AutoCAD is desired.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with designing layouts of equipment, materials, and workspaces to maximize efficiency and assist with implementing recommended changes.
• Apply tools and techniques to improve process capability, eliminate defects, improve on‑time delivery, and achieve cost‑saving targets.
• Facilitate and support the use of Lean Manufacturing methodologies throughout production activities and work processes.
• Participate in cross‑functional project teams focused on continuous quality improvement.
• Conduct time, motion, capacity, and utilization studies.
• Identify, analyze, and implement improvements related to cost, quality, workflow, and delivery.
• Participate in assigned Operational Excellence projects.
• Organize information and complete customer writing deliverables in accordance with Ergon Procedure Writer's Guide requirements.
• Confer with customers and/or subject matter experts to determine technical content and subject material.
• Edit and revise technical, operational, or administrative documents prepared by other writers.

What You'll Gain

As an Industrial Engineer Co-Op, you'll have the opportunity to apply your engineering education to real‑world business and operational challenges. You'll gain practical experience in process improvement, Lean Manufacturing, industrial engineering analysis, project execution, and cross‑functional collaboration while contributing to Operational Excellence initiatives across Ergon.

Why Ergon Inc.?

At Ergon, we are a relationship‑driven, family‑owned company that values each employee's growth and contributions. Headquartered in Flowood, Mississippi, we take pride in maintaining a close‑knit, small‑company atmosphere while offering exceptional job opportunities.

At Ergon, Inc. we live by our core values:

Empowered Service: Together, we’re committed to delivering unparalleled service. We do what's right, provide solutions and foster stronger relationships with our teams and customers. Employee safety is our top priority and the first consideration in all aspects of our service. That's empowered service.

Selfless Leadership : We lead with compassion and put those around us before ourselves. We don't say we're the experts; we demonstrate it through technical expertise, category innovation and care for what we do. We call this selfless leadership.

Purposeful Growth : We believe employee growth and company growth go hand in hand. We build our legacy together to ensure future success through purposeful growth. The company has always reinvested tremendously back into the business, but not just growing for the sake of growing, but growing in a careful and strategic way.

Respectful Relationships : And together, we foster a culture of respect, acceptance and diversity of ideas and of people. Our differences make us stronger. And we're united by our shared values, always forging respectful relationships.

Come and join the Ergon team!

We are an EEO/AAP employer.

Location: Flowood, MS

Ergon, Inc. is an EEO employer and a drug‑free workplace. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US and have a valid driver's license. Any employment offers are contingent upon a pre‑employment drug test, background check, and MVR.