Summer Continuous Improvement Intern – Lean & Manufacturing

KLN ENTERPRISES INC; Perham (MN); On-site; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

KLN Family Brands/Tuffy’s Pet Foods is seeking a Continuous Improvement Intern for the summer of 2027 in Perham, MN. You will work closely with our Continuous Improvement Manager and cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, run improvement projects, and drive operational excellence with a focus on food safety.

You will learn lean manufacturing, project management, data analysis, and cross-functional teamwork while contributing to real business outcomes and potentially earning a

Qualifications

• At least a Junior in college pursuing a degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering.
• The ability to dedicate 10-12 weeks to the internship program for the summer of 2027.
• The ability to work on-site at our Perham, MN facility for the summer.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with employees across multiple departments to identify improvement opportunities, solve problems, and support operational excellence initiatives while maintaining food safety practices.
• Attend and participate in tier meetings throughout the day.
• Support and lead continuous improvement projects, including Just Do It (JDI) initiatives, data collection efforts, process improvement activities, and operational excellence projects identified through tier meetings and business priorities.
• Participate in meetings, training sessions, and cross-functional projects that support strategic business initiatives and continuous improvement objectives.
• Lead and complete a meaningful improvement project that addresses a business need.
• Projects may focus on waste reduction, cost savings, process optimization, workplace organization (5S), equipment implementation support, operational data analysis, or other strategic improvement opportunities.
• Present project results, recommendations, and measurable outcomes to business leaders at the conclusion of the internship

Skills

Industrial Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Education

Industrial Engineering degree (in progress)

Job description

KLN Family Brands/Tuffy’s Pet Foods is seeking a Continuous Improvement Intern for the summer of 2027 in Perham, MN. You will work closely with our Continuous Improvement Manager and cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, run improvement projects, and drive operational excellence with a focus on food safety.

You will learn lean manufacturing, project management, data analysis, and cross-functional teamwork while contributing to real business outcomes and potentially earning a