Packaging / Process Engineering Internship (Spring 2027)

PLZ is committed to product stewardship and innovation, strong ethical standards, sustainable operations and most importantly, the development of our people. Whether at our manufacturing facilities or corporate headquarters, PLZ prioritizes health and safety, and offers you the support you need to create the career you want, through engagement, equity and inclusion, and opportunity.

From household cleaning solutions to personal care products, and food to automotive lubricants, PLZ produces more than 2,500 different aerosol and liquid products in our facilities across the continent. We know that being the partner of choice for our clients starts with being the partner of choice for our employees. Learn more at www.plzcorp.com/careers or visit https://youtu.be/XYNIFpLQIJY

Department: Operations/ Engineering/ Continuous Improvement

• Work Location: St Clair, MO
• Approximate Start/End Date: January 2027 - April/May 2027
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday: 8 am - 5 pm
• Physical Work Requirements: On-site
• Compensation: $21-$23 an hour
• Pay range is based on experience and education level

Internship Summary:

PLZ Corp is seeking a motivated Packaging / Process Engineering Intern to support our Food Products manufacturing operations in Saint Clair, Missouri. This internship will provide hands-on experience within a high-volume manufacturing environment, with a primary focus on process improvement, productivity, standardization, and operational excellence.

Working closely with Plant Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Food Products leadership, the intern will be responsible for evaluating current manufacturing processes, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and consistency, and developing sustainable processes and documentation to support continued growth.

The ideal candidate will have an interest in manufacturing, packaging, process engineering, Lean / continuous improvement, and data-driven problem solving and will be comfortable spending significant time on the production floor working directly with operators and plant leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Process Improvement & Productivity

• Conduct detailed time studies, process observations, and workflow analyses across manufacturing and packaging operations.
• Identify bottlenecks, constraints, non-value-added activities, and other productivity improvement opportunities.
• Analyze production data, cycle times, downtime, changeovers, labor utilization, and throughput to identify the highest-impact improvement opportunities.
• Develop recommendations to improve line efficiency, labor productivity, equipment utilization, changeover performance, and overall throughput.
• Support implementation and validation of process improvements alongside Operations and Engineering teams.

Standard Work & Process Documentation

• Develop and update standard work instructions, operating manuals, SOPs, job aids, process maps, and other manufacturing documentation.
• Partner directly with operators and supervisors to document current-state processes and establish clear, repeatable best practices.
• Help standardize operating procedures across shifts to improve process consistency, quality, training effectiveness, and operational stability.
• Create visual management tools and supporting materials that can be easily utilized on the production floor.
• Assist with developing training materials for new or updated manufacturing processes.

Continuous Improvement Projects

• Lead one or more Green Belt-level continuous improvement projects from problem identification through implementation.

• Utilize Lean / Six Sigma tools such as:

• DMAIC

• 5 Why analysis

• Pareto analysis

• Process mapping

• Root cause analysis

• Standard work

• Waste identification

• Data collection and statistical analysis

• Quantify improvement opportunities and develop business cases around potential productivity, cost, quality, or capacity benefits.

• Establish baseline metrics and track results to ensure improvements are measurable and sustainable.

• Present findings, recommendations, and results to plant and Food Products leadership.

Potential Internship Projects

Depending on business priorities, projects may include:

• Manufacturing line time studies and productivity optimization
• Changeover reduction and SMED analysis
• Production line balancing and labor optimization
• OEE / downtime analysis
• Packaging material or process optimization
• Development of standardized operating procedures
• Production workflow and material movement improvements
• Equipment utilization and capacity analysis
• Scrap, rework, or yield improvement projects
• Operator training and standard work development

The internship will prioritize a limited number of high-impact opportunities where focused effort can deliver the greatest operational benefit.

Internship Deliverables

By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will be expected to deliver:

• Current-State Assessment

Document key manufacturing processes, baseline performance, and identified productivity opportunities.

• Standardized Process Documentation

Develop or improve SOPs, standard work, operating instructions, and related production documentation for prioritized processes.

• Continuous Improvement Project

Lead at least one significant improvement initiative with clearly quantified operational or financial benefits.

• Final Recommendation & Presentation

Present project findings, implemented improvements, remaining opportunities, and recommended next steps to Plant and Food Products leadership.

What you will learn:

This internship provides direct exposure to the operational and engineering challenges of a growing manufacturing business. The intern will have the opportunity to:

• Own meaningful projects with measurable business impact.
• Gain hands-on manufacturing and packaging engineering experience.
• Work directly with plant operators, engineers, managers, and senior business leaders.
• Learn Lean / Six Sigma and continuous improvement methodologies in a real manufacturing environment.
• Develop experience in productivity improvement, process optimization, and manufacturing standardization.
• See projects progress from initial analysis through implementation and measured results.

Internship Criteria:

• Must be a full-time student pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree

• Minimum of a 3.0 or above GPA

• Must be able work 40 hours per week

• Ability to work in the U.S. for an indefinite period

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in:

• Packaging Engineering

• Mechanical Engineering

• Industrial Engineering

• Manufacturing Engineering

• Process Engineering

• Chemical Engineering

• or a related engineering discipline

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to organize and analyze data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Comfortable working collaboratively in a hands-on manufacturing environment.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and related business applications.

• Self-motivated with the ability to independently manage projects and priorities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or other protected status. EEOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.