Packaging / Process Engineering Internship (Spring 2027)

PLZ, Corp•Saint Clair, MO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

PLZ Corp is seeking a motivated Packaging / Process Engineering Intern to support Food Products manufacturing operations in Saint Clair, Missouri. This internship offers hands-on experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment, focused on process improvement, productivity, standardization, and operational excellence. The intern will work with Plant Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Food Products leadership to evaluate current processes, identify opportunities to improve efficiency and consistency, and develop sustainable processes and documentation. Significant time will be spent on the production floor working with operators and plant leadership. The intern will conduct process and data analyses, support and implement improvements, develop standardized work and production documentation, and lead at least one Green Belt-level continuous improvement project. By the end of the internship, the intern is expected to provide a current-state assessment, develop or improve documentation for prioritized processes, lead a measurable improvement initiative, and present findings and recommendations to Plant and Food Products leadership. The role is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., from approximately January 2027 through April or May 2027, and is on-site in St. Clair, Missouri. Compensation is $21–$23 per hour, based on experience and education level.

Requirements

Must be a full-time student pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree.
Minimum GPA of 3.0.
Must be able to work 40 hours per week.
Ability to work in the United States for an indefinite period.
Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to organize and analyze data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to collaborate in a hands-on manufacturing environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and related business applications.
Self-motivated, with the ability to independently manage projects and priorities.

Responsibilities

Conduct time studies, process observations, and workflow analyses across manufacturing and packaging operations.
Identify bottlenecks, constraints, non-value-added activities, and productivity improvement opportunities.
Analyze production data, cycle times, downtime, changeovers, labor utilization, and throughput to identify high-impact opportunities.
Develop recommendations to improve line efficiency, labor productivity, equipment utilization, changeover performance, and throughput.
Support the implementation and validation of process improvements with Operations and Engineering teams.
Develop and update standard work instructions, operating manuals, SOPs, job aids, process maps, and other manufacturing documentation.
Work with operators and supervisors to document current-state processes and establish repeatable best practices.
Help standardize procedures across shifts to improve consistency, quality, training effectiveness, and operational stability.
Create visual management tools and production-floor materials, and assist with training materials for new or updated processes.
Lead one or more Green Belt-level continuous improvement projects from problem identification through implementation.
Use Lean and Six Sigma methods, including DMAIC, 5 Why analysis, Pareto analysis, process mapping, root cause analysis, standard work, waste identification, data collection, and statistical analysis.
Quantify improvement opportunities and develop business cases for productivity, cost, quality, or capacity benefits.
Establish baseline metrics and track results to ensure improvements are measurable and sustainable.
Present findings, recommendations, and results to plant and Food Products leadership.
Deliver a current-state assessment, standardized process documentation, at least one significant improvement initiative with quantified benefits, and a final presentation of results and next steps.