About the role#
The Industrial / Maintenance Engineering Intern supports Operations, Maintenance, and the Plant Engineer through hands-on continuous improvement work at Wawona Frozen Foods. You will work directly with the Continuous Improvement Engineer to apply Lean and Six Sigma tools to facility-wide automation and improvement projects. The internship concludes with a defined project that delivers measurable results and a final presentation to plant leadership.
What you'll do#
- Support the planning, execution, and tracking of facility-wide automation and improvement projects.
- Apply Lean principles and Six Sigma DMAIC methodology to identify and solve production problems.
- Participate in kaizen events and A3 problem-solving with operators, supervisors, and maintenance staff.
- Collect and analyze production data, including OEE, yield, and downtime, to establish baselines.
- Develop and update visual controls, performance boards, and standard work documents.
- Perform ergonomic job surveys to recommend changes that reduce injury risk.
- Conduct time studies, line balancing, and capacity analysis to improve labor utilization.
- Create and update AutoCAD layouts of production lines, equipment, and plant areas.
- Evaluate equipment downtime and assist with the installation of new equipment.
- Update engineering information such as drawings, equipment lists, and asset records.
- Support preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
- Assist the Plant Engineer with capital project support and vendor information gathering.
- Ensure all work follows Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), food safety, and company safety policies.
What you'll need#
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Technology, or a related field.
- Sophomore standing or higher is preferred.
- Coursework or training in Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma.
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt or Green Belt is preferred.
- Working knowledge of AutoCAD or other 2D/3D CAD software.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, specifically Excel for data analysis.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Interest in food manufacturing and plant operations.
- Previous manufacturing, maintenance, or hands-on mechanical experience is a plus.
- Bilingual English/Spanish skills are a plus.
- Must be authorized to work in the United States.
Location & details#
- This is an on-site, full-time, paid internship located in Clovis, California.
- The role follows a rolling term.
- Work occurs in a food processing plant environment, which includes noise, wet or humid conditions, and moving mechanical parts.
About Wawona Frozen Foods
Wawona Frozen Foods operates as a family-owned grower and processor of fresh frozen fruits. Based in the San Joaquin Valley of California, the company supplies products to manufacturers of yogurt, ice cream, and pastries, as well as to school lunch programs and supermarkets. It was founded in 1963 and currently maintains a workforce of 358 employees. The company distributes over 100 products across North America and ships more than 65 million pounds of fruit annually.
How to get in at Wawona Frozen Foods
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