Continuous Improvement Engineering Internship​/Co-op Des Moines, IA

Internship/Co-op Highlights

100% onsite internship/co-op in Des Moines, IA.
Spring 2027 through Summer 2027 internship/co-op.
Open to students pursuing Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Technology, and related degrees.
Competitive pay.
Mentorship, networking, and professional development opportunities.
Opportunity for future full-time employment consideration.

• Gain hands-on experience supporting continuous improvement initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Apply Lean principles such as process mapping, root cause analysis, 5S, and waste reduction to real business challenges.
• Work directly with production teams to identify improvement opportunities and implement sustainable solutions.
• Collect and analyze manufacturing data to drive improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Participate in kaizen events and continuous improvement projects from observation through implementation.
• Develop technical, analytical, and project management skills that support long-term career growth.
• Gain exposure to manufacturing operations, engineering, and cross‑functional business teams.

At EFCO, we're looking for motivated students who are eager to learn, solve problems, and contribute to continuous improvement efforts. If you enjoy analyzing processes, working with people, and finding ways to make operations safer, more efficient, and more effective, we'd love to hear from you!

The Continuous Improvement Engineering Internship/Co-op role will support manufacturing continuous improvement efforts that improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
This internship/co-op role will work directly with production and support teams to observe processes, analyze data, identify root causes, and help implement sustainable improvements using Lean methods. Additionally, this role will provide entry‑level support for continuous improvement projects, kaizen events, standard work, and daily improvement activities.
Please note, this application is for our Continuous Improvement Engineering Internship/Co-op opening in Des Moines, IA, which is expected to run from Spring 2027 through Summer 2027.

• Ensure safety requirements are followed during all continuous improvement activities.
• Observe work on the shop floor, identify potential hazards and process risks, and include safety in the evaluation and implementation of improvements.
• Report or correct unsafe equipment, acts, material revisions, and product deviations immediately.

• Support kaizen events and improvement projects from current-state observation through implementation and follow-up.
• Use Lean methods such as process mapping, waste identification, root cause analysis, 5S, visual management, and standard work.
• Assist with improvements to workflow, workstation and cell layout, material handling, and production flow.
• Work with cross-functional teams to test solutions, track actions, and help sustain completed improvements.

• Collect, analyze, and interpret manufacturing data related to labor, downtime, quality, capacity, and material flow.
• Conduct time studies and process observations to identify bottlenecks and improvement opportunities.
• Create clear summaries, dashboards, and visual management tools to communicate findings, establish baselines, and verify improvement results.

• Develop and update standard work instructions, process documentation, and other visual standards in collaboration with operators, supervisors, engineers, and support departments.
• Demonstrate EFCO…