Continuous Improvement Analyst Intern

Position Overview

The Continuous Improvement Analyst intern will support RJW’s Enterprise Continuous Improvement (CI) team in strengthening how we scale our warehouse and logistics operations. Work is centered on structured problem solving, process improvement, and cross-functional alignment.

You will help apply Lean / CI thinking to real operational problems — mapping workflows, analyzing pain points, supporting intake and prioritization, and helping teams implement and sustain better ways of working. Technical analysis skills are welcomed, but the primary focus is on continuous improvement methods, governance, and change adoption rather than deep engineering design.

RJW values accountability, teamwork, integrity, and a commitment to continuous learning — we're looking for someone who reflects these in how they work and collaborate

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Problem Intake & Triage Support

• Help review and organize CI intake requests from operations, Customer Account Management, logistics, and other functions.
• Capture problem statements, current-state context, and initial data for new CI opportunities.
• Assist with basic prioritization inputs (impact, effort, risk, cross-functional scope).

Structured Problem Solving & Analysis

• Support root cause analysis using CI tools (5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, Pareto analysis, basic data summaries).
• Build clear views of current performance (e.g., volume trends, error types, rework drivers, cycle times) using Excel or similar tools.
• Translate findings into concise summaries that inform CI decisions and next steps.

Process Mapping & Standardization

• Document current-state workflows across key processes (e.g., order flows, customer workflows, warehouse handoffs) using flowcharts or swimlane diagrams.
• Help define future-state process maps and standard work under the guidance of CI leads.
• Support creation of SOPs, job aids, and checklists that make new processes easy to follow.

Change Implementation & Sustainment

• Assist with preparation of training and communication materials (simple slide content, one-pagers, quick-reference guides).
  • Participate in follow-up checks: observing whether new processes are being used, gathering stakeholder feedback, and capturing issues or gaps.
  • Help maintain basic benefit tracking and status logs for CI initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Shadow operations, customer account teams, and other functional teams to understand root causes of recurring issues.
• Join CI working sessions / problem-solving huddles and capture notes, actions, and decisions.
• Support alignment between CI, Industrial Engineering, and Operations by ensuring information is clearly documented and shared.

Required Qualifications

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Proficiency in Excel (formulas, lookups, basic pivot tables); comfort working with operational data sets (sorting, filtering, basic descriptive statistics).
• Exposure to basic operations or process concepts (process flow, bottlenecks, utilization, variability) from coursework or projects.
• Interest in Lean, Lean Six Sigma, and Continuous Improvement concepts (waste identification, standard work, basic problem-solving methods, DMAIC-style thinking).
• Foundational comfort with basic statistics used in CI/LSS (e.g., variation, simple charts, basic descriptive measures) and interest in applying data to problem solving.
• Bonus (not required): familiarity with Power BI, SQL, or simple coding/scripting (Python, R, VBA, etc.).

Competencies & Attributes

• Strong problem-solving mindset and curiosity about how processes can be simplified and improved.
• Comfortable engaging with operators and front-line teams, listening to pain points, and asking clarifying questions.
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication; able to organize thoughts into simple visuals and summaries.
• Organized, reliable, and able to manage multiple small tasks with guidance and regular check-ins.
• Demonstrated interest in continuous improvement, operations, logistics, or supply chain through coursework, clubs, projects, or prior experience.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus, given the multilingual nature of our warehouse environment.

Education and Experience

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Business, or a related field.
• Academic or project experience that demonstrates interest in operations, logistics, or process improvement.

Work Environment: 

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, and fumes or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment will range from quiet to moderately loud.

Employer Rights:

This job description is intended to provide general information about the Continuous Improvement Analyst (Summer Intern) position. The above does not constitute an exhaustive list of the job duties to be performed by an associate holding the position of Continuous Improvement Analyst (Summer Intern), nor are the lists of the physical requirements and environmental conditions exhaustive. You may be asked by your supervisor or managers to perform other duties. Your performance will be evaluated in part based upon your performance of the job duties listed in this job description, as well as any job duties not specifically listed above that you may be asked from time to time to perform. As with all positions, the duties and responsibilities are subject to change at any time as needs arise and at the discretion of the RJW Transport, Inc.  The Company has the right to revise this job description at any time.

Employment-At-Will:

It is the Company’s policy that all associates, other than those covered by a written individual employment or labor agreement with the Company that has been authorized in writing by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or Board of Directors, are not employed for any fixed term and are employed at the will of the Company for an indefinite period.  Just as our associate’s, reserve the right to resign their employment at any time for any reason the Company reserves its right to terminate an associate any time for any reason either with or without cause. 

Neither this Job Description nor any of its individual terms constitute commitments between the Company and its associates as to the terms, conditions, or duration of employment, nor does it modify the prevailing Employment-At-Will relationship.