The Industrial Engineering Intern will support manufacturing operations by developing, maintaining, and improving a dynamic capacity planning tool that evaluates both hard capacity (equipment, machines, and physical resources) and soft capacity (labor availability, staffing, and operational constraints). This role will collaborate with production, operations, and engineering teams to collect data, analyze capacity, identify bottlenecks, and ensure the tool remains accurate and adaptable as business needs change over time.
Essential Functions
· Develop and maintain a comprehensive hard and soft capacity planning tool using Excel, Power BI, or other analytical software.
· Gather, validate, and analyze production, labor, and equipment data to ensure capacity models reflect current operating conditions.
· Update the capacity model regularly to account for changes in staffing, production demand, equipment availability, and process improvements.
· Evaluate manufacturing constraints and identify opportunities to improve throughput and resource utilization.
· Work with production supervisors and functional teams to verify assumptions and improve data accuracy.
· Perform time studies and process analyses to support capacity calculations.
· Develop dashboards and reports to communicate capacity utilization, bottlenecks, and future resource requirements.
· Recommend improvements to production planning and capacity management processes.
· Document methodologies, assumptions, and standard work to ensure the tool can be sustained and enhanced after the internship.
· Present findings and recommendations to engineering and operations leadership
Competency
· Adhere to CFAN’s Core Values– adaptability, accountability, trust, and inclusiveness.
· Commitment to delivering a positive end‑user experience.
· Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
· Excellent communication and Listening skills.
· Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively.
Physical Demands
· Ability to lift and deploy weights up to 25lbs.
· Ability to sit, bend, or stand as needed.
· Mixed role with walking, standing, and sitting with computer and phone use.
· Sufficient mobility to navigate industrial environments and observe manufacturing floor processes.
Required Education and Experience
· Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
· Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, and data analysis.
· Experience with Power BI, Tableau, SQL, Python, or VBA is preferred.
· Basic understanding of manufacturing processes, production planning, and capacity analysis.
· Strong communication and organizational skills.
· Ability to work independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams.
Desired Characteristics/Skills:
· Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles.
· Experience performing time studies or process mapping.
· Familiarity with ERP or MES systems.
· Ability to analyze large datasets and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job.
Pay: $24.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
