Operations Intern

You may not know our name, but you know our products. What we make is part the places where we live, work and play – all day, everyday. Zekelman is a family of companies — 100% domestic manufacturers — with a legacy dating back to 1877. We’re proud to be the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America and the leading innovator in multi-family housing development. We believe in what we build and what we build, builds the world around us. Hospitals, hotels, schools, bridges, airports and more. Come build a career you believe in. About the Role As an Operations Intern at Atlas Tube (a division of Zekelman Industries), you’ll gain hands-on experience across critical areas of plant operations, with a long-term focus on developing leadership skills for future roles in plant management. Reporting to the Plant Manager, you will explore mill operations, quality control, production planning, and more—developing a broad understanding of how our facilities run efficiently and safely. This is a full-time, on-site internship located at our Atlas Tube Chicago facility. The official Zekelman internship program runs from May 26, 2026, through August 14, 2026. This role is perfect for someone eager to grow in a manufacturing environment, develop operational insight, and pursue a future in plant leadership. What You’ll Do Mill Operations Engage with mill operators to understand process improvement and efficiency strategies Assist in quality control by preparing checklists, tracking results, and identifying recurring issues Attend daily production meetings to gain insight into operational priorities and coordination Support creation of production logs to document mill performance and causes of delay Observe bundling processes and analyze impacts of non-standard bundles on throughput Shadow shipping team members to identify process and communication improvements Production Planning Collaborate on steel ordering and navigate sales/production coordination challenges Support communication around priority orders and scheduling conflicts Summarize rolling reports and identify production discrepancies Help organize slitting orders to align with plant capacity and planning Quality Assurance Work with Quality team to understand customer requirements and support issue resolution Document customer feedback and support efforts to implement corrective actions Additional Duties Assist in monitoring and enforcing safety protocols in alignment with Zekelman policies Participate in safety audits, hazard assessments, and incident investigations Perform other duties as assigned in support of operations and intern learning objectives Who You Are Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field Strong analytical and decision-making skills; able to troubleshoot operational issues Effective communicator with strong interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration skills Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Highly organized and able to manage confidential information Available to travel for the Internship Summit, hosted at a Zekelman Industries location This role is open to candidates who are authorized to work in the United States. What You’ll Get Zekelman Industries offers a PAID internship experience with meaningful work, professional development, and the opportunity to make a real impact. Interns also enjoy: Hands-on operations experience in a high-volume manufacturing facility Exposure to mill operations, quality, logistics, and production planning Access to company-wide networking events, team-building activities, and learning sessions Regular coaching and feedback to support growth and development Participation in a company-wide Intern Summit Recruiter ID: #LI-SZ1 Zekelman Industries offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits, including low-cost, high-quality medical and dental benefits.  In addition, we have an amazing tuition assistance program, a bonus plan, a 401(k) plan with a generous company match, immediate vesting, and much more. M/F/D/V We are Zekelman Industries. We manufacture superior quality tubular and related products, and provide outstanding service for our valued customers. We seek to continuously advance the skills and opportunities of our employees, utilizing the latest technology and management tools available to consistently increase profitability and the enterprise value of Zekelman Industries and of our customers. Zekelman is a family of companies — 100% domestic manufacturers — with a legacy dating back to 1877. We’re proud to be the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America and the leading innovator in multi-family housing development.