Manufacturing Engineering Intern - Lean Projects & Mentorship

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James Hardie is the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, composite and PVC decking and railing products. Our family of trusted brands includes Hardie®, Timber Tech®, AZEK® Exteriors, Versatex®, fermacell®, and Stru Xure®.

With over 8,000 employees and our U.S. operating entities headquartered in Chicago, we boast 31 operating sites, 6 recycling facilities, and 6 research and development centers globally. Powered by a dynamic workforce, we’re united by our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™ through sustainable innovation, a Zero Harm culture, and a commitment to empowering our people and communities.

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As a James Hardie intern, you will gain hands-on experience in your chosen field while contributing to meaningful projects that drive business results. Our 12-week paid internship program is designed to provide real-world industry exposure, strengthen your professional and technical skills, and help prepare you for a successful career. Throughout the program, you will collaborate with experienced professionals, build valuable relationships across the organization, and take on work that makes a measurable impact.

You will also have access to mentoring opportunities and professional development resources to support your growth and career aspirations.

Internship Objective

Support manufacturing improvement through a focused engineering assignment in training documentation, process-water pretreatment, or warehouse organization and time study. The intern will contribute to cost savings, process improvement, and operational effectiveness while participating in the site's Daily Management System and collaborating with operators and technical partners.

By the end of the internship, the intern will:

• Complete the agreed project scope and deliver practical, usable documentation or recommendations.
• Engage effectively with operators and technical partners while participating in the manufacturing operations
• Present project findings, business impact, and recommended next steps.

Training Documentation

• Review existing training manuals and standard operating procedures to identify gaps and outdated content.
• Shadow operators and partner with assigned subject-matter experts to update priority documentation.
• Target completion of materials for raw materials, rollerhand, and stackerhand activities, subject to project scope.

Process-Water Pretreatment

• Evaluate pretreatment needs for an existing reverse-osmosis system.
• Develop an equipment specification, project cost estimate, and installation scope with engineering partners.

Warehouse Organization and Time Study

• Study warehouse layout, material movement, and storage locations for finished goods and raw materials.
• Identify time-saving opportunities and prepare a detailed report on the finishing warehouse layout, with additional areas assessed as project capacity permits.

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in a relevant discipline at an accredited university, with an anticipated graduation between December 2027 and May 2029 (rising senior or rising junior).
• Strong academic performance with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Available to work full-time for 12 weeks during summer 2027.
• Reliable transportation to and from the work location.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Preferred Skills

• Pursuing a degree in Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field aligned with the selected project.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with operators and technical partners.
• Technical documentation skills.
• For a…