Supply Chain Intern

As a Supply Chain Intern at MEC, your primary responsibilities will include project support related to Supplier Scorecards, Commodity Strategies, and Spend Analytics. You'll also get involved in activities like Contract Management and Supplier Rationalization, ensuring that each project drives cost savings and enhances our operational efficiency. Throughout the internship, you will track Key Performance Indicators and present your results to the supply chain organization, allowing you to demonstrate your contributions directly.

To be a fitting candidate for the Supply Chain Intern position at MEC, you should be pursuing a BA/BS degree in supply chain management, industrial engineering, finance, or business. Strong problem-solving skills, excellent communication abilities, and proficiency in MS Office are essential. Experience with Lean Manufacturing concepts and data management tools like Power BI is preferred but not mandatory. Previous internship experience in supply chain roles is a bonus, but not required.

MEC offers a competitive pay rate for our Supply Chain Interns ranging from $17 to $20 per hour, depending on your year in school. This compensation reflects our commitment to providing valuable experiences in conjunction with fair remuneration for your contributions to our team.

While previous supply chain internship experience can certainly enhance your application for the Supply Chain Intern role at MEC, it is not a strict requirement. We are more interested in your willingness to learn, your educational background, and your problem-solving skills. If you show enthusiasm for the field and a commitment to excellence, you could be a great fit!

The Supply Chain Intern position at MEC can be based out of several locations, including Milwaukee, Byron Center, Hazel Park, Fond Du Lac, Mayville, and Defiance. This flexibility allows us to accommodate different candidates while ensuring that they can contribute to our corporate procurement efforts effectively, regardless of the specific location.

When discussing your interest in the Supply Chain Intern position at MEC, it’s important to express your enthusiasm for learning and contributing to a leading metal fabrication company. Highlight specific aspects of the role, such as working on strategic sourcing and cost-saving initiatives, and how they align with your academic background and career goals.

To answer this question effectively, choose a specific example where you identified a challenging issue within a project. Describe the context, the creative solutions you developed, and the positive outcome. Focus on your analytical and decision-making skills to show how they contributed to your success in problem-solving.

When prioritizing tasks, start by assessing the urgency and impact of each project on the overall goals. Discuss your organizational skills, and methods—like using project management tools or techniques—to keep track of deadlines and ensure timely completion of projects. This shows your potential for project management in the internship.

Lean manufacturing focuses on maximizing value by reducing waste throughout the production process. Share your understanding of specific techniques like value stream mapping or the five-why approach. Highlight any coursework or experiences related to lean concepts to demonstrate your foundational knowledge and eagerness to apply these principles in real scenarios.

When asked about your experience with data management tools, provide specific examples of any software you’ve used, such as Excel or Power BI. Discuss any relevant projects where you manipulated or analyzed data to draw insights or support decision-making, as this relates directly to tasks you'd handle at MEC.

To address potential conflicts, talk about the importance of open communication. Emphasize your approach to resolving disagreements respectfully and collaboratively, seeking to understand different perspectives before arriving at a solution that benefits all parties involved, reflecting MEC's values of respect and teamwork.

Highlight how effective communication fosters collaboration among different departments and stakeholders in the supply chain. Explain how it enables clear expectations and helps prevent issues, ultimately contributing to operational efficiency. Providing examples of how you’ve utilized effective communication can strengthen your answer.

Discuss organizational strategies like using to-do lists, digital calendars, or project management apps to track deadlines and responsibilities. Mention how maintaining organization is crucial for successfully completing multiple projects, especially in a fast-paced internship environment like MEC’s.

Provide an example of a project where you collaborated with individuals from different functions. Detail your role, the outcomes, and any challenges faced. This showcases your ability to work collaboratively and leads to better solutions—a key aspect of the Supply Chain Intern role at MEC.

Express your eagerness to gain hands-on experience in supply chain management and to learn from industry leaders. Specify skills or knowledge areas you’re interested in, such as strategic sourcing or supplier relationship management, demonstrating your enthusiasm for personal and professional growth within the company.