Internship - 2026 Undergraduate Industrial Engineer Intern (Knoxville, IA)

3M•Knoxville, IA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The role of Undergraduate Industrial Engineer Intern is intended to start in Summer 2026. Collaborate with Innovative 3Mers Around the World. Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the company that you choose to work at, and its leaders, will support and guide you. With a wide variety of people, global locations, technologies and products, 3M is a place where you can collaborate with other curious, creative 3Mers. An internship is a temporary position within 3M. Interns typically work a full-time schedule throughout a 10-12 week assignment. This position is limited to working 899 hours per service credit year. 3M provides eligible interns with a housing and transportation stipend in accordance with current policy. This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military experience to a 3M career. Applications on this requisition are reviewed and filled on a rolling basis; it is in the candidate’s best interest to apply as soon as possible. Interested candidates should include a resume as part of their application. Candidates applying for this role will be considered for Summer 2026 Internships based in one of the following plant locations: Knoxville, IA.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree, or higher, from an accredited institution
Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).
Responsibilities of this position may include direct and/or indirect physical or logical access to information, systems, technologies subjected to the regulations/compliance with U.S. Export Control Laws.

Nice To Haves

Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher in mechanical, manufacturing, industrial, or engineering discipline
Completed a minimum of sophomore year (4 semesters) by the start of the internship
Current cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
Experience with light assembly, assembly automation, robotic applications, material handling, or inspection equipment
Experience in the use of statistical tools and data analysis in problem solving
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
Ability to multi-task and prioritize workload

Responsibilities

Gaining an understanding of the Manufacturing process and identifying inefficiencies in the process
Working with other engineers in the factory and at the division level to brainstorm and prioritize process improvements that may improve yield and productivity in the plant
Developing and implementing creative and innovative process solutions in collaboration with cross-functional team members
Supporting the modification and improvement of existing process conditions, methods and/or solutions
Initiating and leading projects that result in continuous improvement of Product and Process Understanding (PPU), Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and machine Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
Understand and use statistical analysis and PPU to improve process
Creating and maintaining product/process documentation, including specifications, test methods, and change management documentation
Effectively troubleshoot defects and variation, perform root cause analysis, and apply problem solving skills
Development and implementation of improvements related to safety, quality, service, and cost in assigned areas
Provide daily production support and troubleshooting for assigned products and manufacturing operations
Improve manufacturing operations using continuous improvement and project management tools
Maintain, track, and report on unit/static costs and variances for assigned products
Work with capital project teams to provide overview of potential savings from all functional areas involved with any project.
Work with plant teams to analyze operations, workflows and production needs of processes to identify potential improvement and waste reduction opportunities.
Exposure to multiple technology platforms across a variety of internal customer divisions, with focus on system improvements that enable the entire supply chain.
Drive kaizen activities across a variety of areas to drive continuous improvement in standard work, optimized changeovers, and material and information flow.
Responsibilities of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties.
Safety is a core value at 3M. All employees are expected to contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.