Operational Excellence / Continuous Improvement Intern

Hexcel•Amesbury, MA

10d

About The Position

The Operational Excellence (OpEx) / Continuous Improvement Intern supports performance improvement, compliance, and operational excellence initiatives within the ARC / Hexcel production environment. The intern partners with Production, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Supply Chain, and Engineering to identify operational gaps, eliminate waste, strengthen process capability, and help the site meet regulatory, customer, and business requirements. The intern will be taught Lean, Six Sigma, and data-driven problem-solving methodologies to improve throughput, reduce defects, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement across the site. The position supports Lean initiatives across factory areas, process standardization and documentation, training and continuous improvement culture, and cost optimization. Hexcel is a global leader in advanced composites technology, a leading producer of carbon fiber, and the world leader in honeycomb manufacturing for the commercial aerospace industry. The position is restricted to U.S. citizens due to U.S. government contract regulations requiring employment of only U.S. citizens. Hexcel is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Strong interest in continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Basic knowledge of or coursework in Lean and/or Six Sigma.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Must be a U.S. citizen due to U.S. government contract regulations.

Responsibilities

Support and facilitate Lean initiatives, including 5S, standard work, visual management, and value stream mapping across multiple factory areas.
Identify production bottlenecks and assist in implementing sustainable solutions to improve flow and reduce cycle time.
Conduct time studies, process mapping, waste analysis, and capacity evaluations to optimize production performance.
Support the development and refinement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions to ensure clarity, consistency, and audit readiness.
Assist in creating visual management materials, work instructions, and training materials for production personnel.
Assist with coaching technicians on Lean principles, problem-solving techniques, and best practices.
Participate in Gemba walks, tier meetings, and continuous improvement workshops.
Promote a culture of accountability and proactive issue identification.
Support identification and delivery of continuous improvement savings through scrap reduction, yield improvement, labor optimization, and process efficiency.
Contribute to efforts to reduce cost per unit through improved throughput and reduced rework.