Engineering Intern, Continuous Improvement

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.

For more information, visit

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.

The primary goal of this internship is to support the development, standardization, and continuous improvement of the Hardie Manufacturing Operating System (HMOS) processes across the Tacoma manufacturing organization. The intern will gain practical experience in Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence while helping improve how work is documented, trained, audited, and sustained.

The intern will be responsible for completing a structured capstone project focused on HMOS maturity, procedural excellence, operational standardization, or continuous improvement.

The specific project area will be determined based on business needs; however, responsibilities will typically include:

• Develop, revise, and standardize operating procedures, standard work documents, one-point lessons (OPLs), and training materials.
• Support HMOS implementation activities including Daily Management Systems (DMS), visual management, audits, and process assessments.
• Conduct process observations, data collection, and workflow analysis to identify improvement opportunities and document current and future state processes.
• Partner with production, maintenance, quality, and operations teams to improve process consistency, waste elimination, and operator usability.
• Lead and complete a summer capstone project focused on HMOS, standardization, process improvement, or operational effectiveness.

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in a relevant discipline at an accredited university, with an anticipated graduation date between December 2027 and May 2029 (rising junior or rising senior).
• 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.

• Target degree:
  Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering, Operations Management, or related discipline.
• Understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies such as: PDCA 5S Visual Management Standard Work Root Cause Analysis A3 Problem Solving Process Mapping Statistical/Data Analysis Soft Skills Strong written communication skills.
• Ability…