Industrial Engineering Intern

Operational Excellence (OpEx) / Industrial Engineering Intern

Location: Greenville, SC

Department: Operational Excellence (Packaging)

Duration: Summer 2026

Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week)

Pay: $22-25/hour

Position Overview

PAI Pharma is seeking a driven and analytical Industrial Engineering / Operational Excellence Intern to support performance optimization across packaging operations. This role offers a unique opportunity to dive into real production data, evaluate system constraints, and help identify opportunities to improve efficiency across packaging lines.

This is not a “watch and learn” internship. You’ll be investigating real bottlenecks, validating performance metrics, and helping answer the question every plant cares about: what’s slowing us down and how do we fix it?

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct constraint and bottleneck analysis across multiple packaging lines

• Evaluate performance of line components, including fillers and supporting equipment

• Analyze production data to determine true system limitations

• Validate accuracy of line speeds and performance metrics

• Review and assess OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) data within systems

• Investigate reported speed losses and inefficiencies

• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, and OpEx teams to support improvement efforts

• Document findings and provide recommendations for process optimization

Key Projects

• Perform a comprehensive constraint analysis for each packaging line

• Determine whether fillers are true bottlenecks or if constraints exist elsewhere

• Evaluate speed capability of individual line components

• Validate performance data within the SCW OEE measurement system

• Identify and verify sources of speed loss and inefficiency

Learning Objectives

Through this internship, the selected candidate will:

• Gain hands-on experience with industrial engineering principles in a live manufacturing environment

• Learn how to perform bottleneck and constraint analysis

• Develop an understanding of OEE systems and production performance metrics

• Build data analysis and problem-solving skills using real operational data

• Experience how continuous improvement initiatives are executed in a pharmaceutical setting

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Interest in manufacturing, operations, or process improvement

• Ability to interpret data and identify trends

• Strong communication and teamwork skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or OpEx concepts

• Experience with data analysis tools (Excel, etc.)

• Interest in pursuing a career in manufacturing or operational excellence

What You’ll Gain

• Real-world experience solving actual production challenges

• Exposure to high-impact efficiency and performance initiatives

• Hands-on work with OEE systems and manufacturing data

• Opportunity to contribute insights that could directly improve operations