Job Description

Wawona Frozen Foods

ABOUT THIS COMPANY

We pride ourselves on being family-owned and operated and treating our employees like family. Working at a company where safety and quality are top priorities. Every day, Wawona Frozen Foods' commitment to excellence justifies its reputation for delivering superior quality, value, and service. Wawona's state-of-the-art production methods and facilities ensure consistent high-quality products - all while maintaining the highest food safety standards as required by the USDA and state regulators.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Industrial / Maintenance Engineering Intern supports Operations, Maintenance, and the Plant Engineer through hands-on continuous improvement work at Wawona Frozen Foods. Working directly with the Continuous Improvement Engineer, the intern applies Lean and Six Sigma tools to facility-wide automation and improvement projects. Interns work throughout the plant performing ergonomic job surveys, analyzing operations and job loads, reviewing work methods, creating AutoCAD layouts, evaluating downtime, and recommending and installing new equipment and layouts. The intern also updates engineering information on plant systems and recommends improvements that increase safety, quality, throughput, and cost efficiency. The internship concludes with a defined project that delivers measurable results and a final presentation to plant leadership.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Continuous Improvement & Lean Six Sigma

• Support the Continuous Improvement Engineer in planning, executing, and tracking facility-wide automation and improvement projects.
• Apply Lean principles and tools, including value stream mapping, process/line mapping, 5S, standard work, the 8 wastes, visual management, and kaizen events, to reduce waste and improve flow.
• Use Six Sigma DMAIC methodology and statistical tools (Pareto analysis, control charts, capability studies, fishbone diagrams, 5-Why, and root cause analysis) to identify and solve production problems.
• Participate in and help facilitate kaizen events and A3 problem-solving with operators, leads, supervisors, and maintenance staff.
• Collect, organize, and analyze production data (OEE, yield, throughput, downtime, labor) to establish baselines and measure the results of improvements.
• Develop and update visual controls, performance boards, and standard work documents to sustain improvements.

Industrial Engineering, Line Layout & Ergonomics

• Perform ergonomic job surveys and recommend changes that reduce strain and injury risk and address employee needs at workstations.
• Analyze operations and job loads using time studies, line balancing, and capacity analysis to improve labor utilization and staffing plans. Update job mapping and standards in collaboration with operations and accounting/finance. Improve the standard labor needed to run lines and efficient operations.
• Review current work methods and analyze potential method and design changes to improve efficiency, safety, and product quality.
• Create and update AutoCAD layouts of production lines, equipment, and plant areas; develop new line layout and material flow concepts (e.g., spaghetti diagrams).
• Evaluate, recommend, and assist with the installation of new equipment and layouts, including design improvements to existing lines.

Maintenance & Plant Engineering Support

• Evaluate equipment downtime and identify methods to increase efficiency and reliability.
• Update engineering information on plant systems, including drawings, equipment lists, and asset records in the maintenance management system.
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance programs using tools such as FMEA, root cause analysis, and 5-Why to prevent recurring equipment failures.
• Assist the Plant Engineer and Maintenance team with capital project support, vendor information gathering, and project documentation.
• Recommend improvements to plant systems, utilities, and equipment based on data and field observation.

Safety, Quality & Food Handling

• Follow all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), food safety, food handling, sanitation, and allergen requirements while working in production areas.
• Ensure proposed equipment, layouts, and design changes support sanitary design, food safety, and quality standards.
• Follow all company safety policies, including PPE, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) awareness, and safe work practices around moving equipment.

Project & Communication

• Complete a defined internship project with measurable business impact and present results and recommendations to plant leadership.
• Provide regular project progress updates to the Continuous Improvement Engineer and Plant Engineer.
• Other duties and tasks as assigned.

Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or a related field; sophomore standing or higher preferred.
• Coursework or training in Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma; Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt or Green Belt (or in progress) preferred.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD or other 2D/3D CAD software.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel for data collection and analysis.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work with operators, maintenance technicians, supervisors, and leadership.
• Interest in food manufacturing, plant operations, and continuous improvement.
• Previous manufacturing, maintenance, or hands-on mechanical experience is a plus; bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 45 pounds. This position will require the employee to work throughout a food manufacturing facility, in a clean room, and on a computer.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The production work environment at WFF is that of a typical food processing plant, including noise, wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; outside weather conditions and extreme cold. The floors in work areas are wet and slippery and there is fruit debris on the floor, requiring slip resistant shoes when working in production areas.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I have reviewed and understand the above Job Description and believe it to be accurate and complete. I certify that I am fully capable of completing all the responsibilities documented herein and I do not have physical or mental disability that would jeopardize my health and safety and or the health safety of my co-workers.