What are the responsibilities and job description for the Operations Management Intern position at KI?
At KI, we believe knowing our customers helps us serve them better. We listen. We observe. We understand that each customer has unique needs. So, we pride ourselves on helping our customers make smart furniture decisions by offering expert advice, design options and personalized solutions.Since 1941, we’ve positioned KI as the furniture company that best understands the furniture industry and is committed to providing customers with the smart solutions. By targeting specific markets with solutions for business furniture, university furniture, educational furniture, healthcare furniture and government furniture, we can quickly respond to our customers’ unique needs – including the choice to procure furniture according to what fits their ordering and fulfillment process. That’s why we say we offer far more than furniture. We’re Furnishing Knowledge.
Kickstart your operations career in Manitowoc with a hands-on internship where you’ll work on real projects, solve real problems, and see your ideas make an impact. As an Operations Management Intern, you’ll support our Operations and Lean teams on process improvement, safety, and daily plant operations in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
What You’ll Do:
- You’ll be part of the team that keeps our plant running efficiently and safely.
Your work will support ongoing improvement initiatives, including:
- Conducting time studies on existing processes and recommending updated time standards.
- Implementing improvement ideas generated through our process improvement system.
- Collaborating with Plant Technicians for feedback on new processes and ideas.
- Assisting manufacturing engineers with process improvements, including layout updates.
- Communicating project updates to internal stakeholders and external partners.
- You’ll contribute to the daily heartbeat of plant operations by supporting: Safety audits, safety observations, and incident investigations.
- Quality issue investigations and related follow-up.
- Attendance at select management meetings to see how decisions get made and projects move forward.
What You Bring:
- A current Junior or Senior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or Business.
- Someone with manufacturing experience (preferred but not required).
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams; PowerPoint is a plus).
- Able to read blueprints and equipped with strong mechanical aptitude.
- Willing to jump in with hands‑on work when needed.
- A strong communicator—both written and verbal.
- Organized, detail‑oriented, and able to handle multiple projects at once.
- Creative, energetic, and enthusiastic about improving how things work.
Why You'll Love This Internship
- You’ll work on meaningful, real-world projects—not busywork.
- You’ll develop skills in lean manufacturing, safety, quality, and operations leadership.
- You’ll collaborate with experienced engineers, technicians, and managers.
- You’ll get exposure to both plant-floor activity and higher-level management processes.
KI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.