What are the responsibilities and job description for the Cost Deployment Intern (Continuous Improvement) position at International Automotive Components?
Job Title: Lean / Continuous Improvement Intern
Location: Arlington, TX
Duration: 3 Months | Full-Time (with potential extension up to 6 months based on project needs and performance)
Position Summary
The Cost Deployment Intern will support Continuous Improvement initiatives by working directly with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering teams to identify losses, eliminate waste, and improve plant performance. The role will help implement a Cost Deployment methodology that links operational losses to financial impact and supports the 2027 budgeting process.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with production, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams to identify operational losses and improvement opportunities
- Participate in Gemba walks, process observations, and data collection activities on the production floor
- Develop and implement Cost Deployment templates, loss trees, and matrices
- Facilitate cross-functional workshops to identify and validate improvement opportunities
- Guide teams through completion of Cost Deployment matrices and ensure consistency
- Translate operational losses into financial impact and identify key cost drivers
- Deliver a prioritized pipeline of Continuous Improvement opportunities
- Assist in Lean Six Sigma and problem-solving activities
Qualifications
- Pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Operations Management.
- Preferred: Graduate-level student
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Proficient in Excel
- Interest in Lean, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement
- Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally
Preferred Experience
- Lean Manufacturing
- Six Sigma methodologies
- Continuous Improvement projects
- Manufacturing operations
- Process optimization
- Data analysis in a production environment
Key Deliverables
- Standardized Cost Deployment framework and templates
- Completed loss analysis with quantified cost impact
- Prioritized CI project pipeline aligned to financial value
- Final presentation to leadership with recommendations
Why This Role Matters
This role enables a data-driven approach to cost management by connecting operational losses to financial impact, supporting better decision-making and strengthening the 2027 budget planning process.
Salary : $3,000,000 - $6,000,000