Manufacturing Intern - Fall 2026

The Manufacturing Intern will support day-to-day operations, process improvement initiatives, safety activities, and production-related projects within the Specialty Engineered Materials manufacturing facility. This role provides hands-on exposure to manufacturing operations, continuous improvement, quality systems, maintenance coordination, and plant leadership while helping the team improve safety, efficiency, reliability, and overall performance.(Full time or Part Time)

Scope

This position will support the Avon Lake Specialty Engineered Materials manufacturing facility and will work cross-functionally with operations, engineering, quality, maintenance, warehouse, and EHS teams. The intern may support both office-based and plant-floor activities depending on project needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Support manufacturing operations by assisting with production data collection, process observations, standard work documentation, and operational follow-up.

• Participate in continuous improvement projects focused on safety, quality, productivity, waste reduction, changeover improvement, and cost savings.

• Assist with tracking and reporting key performance indicators such as production performance, downtime, scrap, first-pass quality, inventory accuracy, and safety actions.

• Support root cause analysis activities by gathering data, documenting findings, and helping identify corrective actions.

• Partner with production, maintenance, quality, engineering, warehouse, and EHS teams to complete assigned projects and improve plant processes.

• Help document standard operating procedures, work instructions, training materials, and visual management tools.

• Participate in GEMBA walks, team meetings, project reviews, and other operational routines to gain exposure to manufacturing leadership practices.

• Maintain a strong focus on safety, housekeeping, compliance, and professional conduct in all work areas.

• Perform other duties and project work as assigned.

Education and Experience
* High school diploma or equivalent required.
* Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field preferred.
* Prior internship, manufacturing, laboratory, warehouse, maintenance, or operations experience preferred but not required.
* Strong interest in manufacturing operations, process improvement, safety, quality, and problem solving.

Required Skills and Competencies
* Strong verbal and written communication skills.
* Ability to work safely in a manufacturing environment and follow all plant rules and procedures.
* Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
* Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and summarize findings clearly.
* Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
* Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team.
* Ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing business needs.
* Positive attitude, curiosity, professionalism, and willingness to learn.

Learning Opportunities
* Gain practical exposure to manufacturing leadership, plant operations, safety systems, quality processes, and continuous improvement tools.
* Build experience using data to support operational decisions and performance improvement.
* Develop project management, communication, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
* Contribute to meaningful projects that improve safety, efficiency, reliability, cost, and employee engagement.

Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.

Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it's powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you're a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you'll find your place at Avient.

Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!

We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.

By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient's strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.

At Avient, we believe a wide variety of thoughts, ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person's qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.

Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran's status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application, please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing, ApplicationAccommodation@Avient.com.