Operational Excellence​/Continuous Improvement Intern

Operational Excellence (OpEx) / Continuous Improvement Intern

Support performance improvement, compliance, and operational excellence initiatives within the ARC / Hexcel production environment. This role partners closely with Production, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Supply Chain, and Engineering to identify operational gaps, eliminate waste, strengthen process capability, and support the site in meeting regulatory, customer, and business requirements.

• 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 SOPs and work instructions to ensure clarity, consistency, and audit readiness.
• Assist in creating visual aids, job aids, 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, promoting a culture of accountability and proactive issue identification.
• Support identification and delivery of OpEx savings through scrap reduction, yield improvement, labor optimization, and process efficiency. Contribute to efforts aimed at reducing cost per unit through improved throughput and reduced rework.

• High school diploma or GED (required).
• Strong interest in continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Basic knowledge or coursework in Lean and/or Six Sigma.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to obtain a security clearance.
• Position is limited to U.S. citizens due to U.S. government contract regulations.

Hexcel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected class.