About this position
Position Summary
The Supply Chain Summer Internship is a 12-week, full-time program designed to give a hands-on view of how a manufacturing supply chain operates. You’ll complete four 3-week rotations in:
- Purchasing
- Sourcing
- Quality
- Focus Area / Project
By the end of the internship, you should be able to:
- Describe how purchasing, sourcing, and quality interact in a manufacturing supply chain.
- Understand the basics of an ERP system in supply chain processes.
- Read and interpret basic supply chain metrics (on-time delivery, supplier performance, nonconformance trends).
- Use Excel and basic data analysis to support decisions and process improvements.
- Apply simple problem-solving and root cause tools to real issues.
- Communicate clearly with suppliers and internal stakeholders in a professional environment.
Reporting Relationships
This position will report to the Purchasing Manager.
Requirements
Primary Responsibilities
Overall (Across All 12 Weeks)
- Learn how materials, information, and decisions flow through the supply chain in a manufacturing environment.
- Shadow team members in daily work and progressively take ownership of defined tasks.
- Support data analysis and reporting, using tools such as Excel and SAP ByDesign.
- Document processes, create or update work instructions, and suggest improvements.
- Partner with cross-functional teams (e.g., Engineering, Operations, Finance) on assigned tasks or projects.
Rotation 1 – Purchasing
- Assist with purchase order (PO) creation, confirmation, and follow-up with suppliers.
- Support expediting of critical materials and tracking of late orders.
- Help maintain accurate data in the ERP system (e.g., lead times, order status, delivery dates).
- Analyze purchase history for key categories (spend, MOQ, price trends, vendor performance).
Rotation 2 – Sourcing
- Support supplier research for new or alternative sources (e.g., dual sourcing, risk mitigation, lead-time reduction).
- Assist in gathering supplier quotes and comparing price, lead time, MOQ, and commercial terms.
- Help prepare supplier evaluations using quality, delivery, and cost data.
- Participate in supplier onboarding tasks (data setup, documentation collection, basic risk checks).
Rotation 3 – Quality
- Support incoming inspection activities by helping review inspection records and material nonconformances.
- Assist in processing Non-Conforming Material Reports (NCMRs) and tracking corrective actions with suppliers or internal teams.
- Support root cause analysis on selected supplier or internal quality issues (e.g., 5-Whys, basic fishbone diagrams).
Rotation 4 – Focus Area / Project
- Support the area that either has the highest business need at that moment or aligns most with your interests and performance, as agreed with your manager.
- Prepare and deliver a brief end-of-internship presentation summarizing your key learnings and continuous improvement suggestions.
Required Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or a related field.
- Completion of at least sophomore year by the start of the internship.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable working with data in Excel or similar tools.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work on-site in a manufacturing setting and collaborate with both hourly and salaried employees.
- Detail-oriented, organized, and willing to ask questions and learn.
Preferred Qualifications
- Coursework or exposure to procurement, sourcing, operations, or quality.
- Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.) or similar tools.
- Familiarity with basic process improvement concepts (e.g., standard work, root cause analysis, continuous improvement).
- Interest in manufacturing and industrial equipment/products.
Program Details
- Duration: 12 weeks (Summer 2026)
- Schedule: Full-time, typically Monday–Friday
- Location: Chattanooga, TN
- Travel: No travel required