Continuous Improvement Internship

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Office Tuffy's Pet Foods, Perham, MN, US

KLN Family Brands is a 3 rd generation family-owned business that started in 1964 with its corporate headquarters located in Perham, MN, in the heart of MN lakes country. Together, our companies manufacture a diverse and expanding range of high-quality human and pet food products.

At KLN Family Brands, our vision is that “We are a proud people-first company. We are successful because of trust-based relationships, and first-rate products for our families and friends. We better the world by caring for others. We challenge. We grow. We inspire.”

Some companies have to “fudge the story” a little. Some need the extra “spin” to shine a positive light on themselves. That’s not who we are at KLN Family Brands, and that’s not what we do. We tell the story of our brand – our people
, the quality & safety of our products, our tradition & trust
, our bold innovation
, and the way we treat our community & beyond
. We do it in a genuine way because we genuinely believe we’re a pretty amazing company.

We’re looking for a Continuous Improvement Intern for the summer of 2027 that is serious about a career in manufacturing. If you are willing to learn from the best and have a desire to participate in the growth of some of the fastest growing brands in the pet food industry, you’ve stumbled upon the right job.

As a Continuous Improvement Intern
, you’ll work closely with our Continuous Improvement Manager and various other team members.

• Collaborate with employees across multiple departments to identify improvement opportunities, solve problems, and support operational excellence initiatives while maintaining food safety practices
• Attend and participate in tier meetings throughout the day
• Support and lead continuous improvement projects, including Just Do It (JDI) initiatives, data collection efforts, process improvement activities, and operational excellence projects identified through tier meetings and business priorities
• Participate in meetings, training sessions, and cross-functional projects that support strategic business initiatives and continuous improvement objectives
• Lead and complete a meaningful improvement project that addresses a business need
• Projects may focus on waste reduction, cost savings, process optimization, workplace organization (5S), equipment implementation support, operational data analysis, or other strategic improvement opportunities
• Present project results, recommendations, and measurable outcomes to business leaders at the conclusion of the internship

• Innovation and creativity
• Project management, timeline ownership, and follow-through
• Goal setting, KPI, and performance measurement
• Data collection, analysis, and business case development
• Root cause analysis and structured problem solving
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles
• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement
• Oral and written communication
• Teamwork and leadership

• At least a Junior in college pursuing a degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering
• The ability to dedicate 10-12 weeks to the internship program for the summer of 2027
• A positive attitude and willingness to learn
• The ability to work in a team atmosphere and be a great co-worker
• The ability to work on-site at our Perham, MN facility for the summer

The starting hourly rate of pay is $17.94 and will be a percentage of industry standards based on typical full-time starting salaries, and will depend on your year in school and timeline to graduation.

Interns who demonstrate exceptional performance and a passion for our business may have the opportunity for full-time employment upon graduation.