McWane Ductile New Jersey-Co-Op Program-Continuous Improvement (Mechanical Focus)

We hire top talent who are safety oriented and have the necessary skills to be an asset to the McWane team.

The McWane Ductile facility was previously called Atlantic States. Ten years ago, the facility changed its leadership team to create a culture focused on keeping employees and our environment safe. During this time, McWane invested several million dollars in safety and environmental related enhancements.

Recently, McWane Ductile was awarded the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Award.

This OSHA recognition is only achieved by 1% of the U.S manufacturing facilities. The McWane Ductile team is proud of this achievement in recognition of our world class safety practices and procedures.

Co-Op Program - Continuous Improvement (Mechanical Focus)

Summer Co-Op program offers hands-on, practical experience driving real-world improvements in a fast-paced Foundry manufacturing environment. You'll work alongside operations, maintenance, engineering, and quality teams to identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, and implement mechanical solutions that boost performance. This role blends on-the-floor exposure with structured project work, preparing you for a future in continuous improvement, operations, or engineering leadership.

You will gain experience in:

• Lean & Continuous Improvement - Learn how to eliminate waste, improve processes, and implement Lean tools (5S, visual management, standard work, etc.).
• Project Execution - Lead projects from idea to implementation with measurable results.
• Root Cause Problem Solving - Use structured methods (5 Whys, Fishbone, A3s) to define issues, identify root causes, and test solutions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration - Interact with plant leadership, union workforce, maintenance, engineering, and quality teams.
• Leadership Skills - Participate in coaching, training, and leadership development sessions throughout the summer.

• Support CI initiatives focused on downtime reduction, throughput improvement, and process stabilization.
• Participate in kaizen events, time studies, and standard work development.
• Assist with mechanical design changes or updates to improve equipment performance.
• Create or revise SolidWorks/CAD models, drawings, and documentation.
• Conduct field measurements and validate design feasibility on-site.
• Manage data collection and analysis for OEE, scrap reduction, or other KPI projects.
• Present findings and recommendations to CI and plant leadership teams.
• Support day-to-day operations with assigned mentor or CI engineer.

• Pursuing a BS in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum completion of 1 year of coursework.
• Familiarity with Lean principles, CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks), and basic mechanical systems (hydraulics, pneumatics) is preferred.
• Strong communication skills and a willingness to get on the floor and learn by doing.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

McWane is a Federal VEVRAA contractor, and an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices. McWane will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or service member status, marital status, citizenship status (In IL - sex, including same sex, ancestry, order of protection status, physical or mental disability, military status, pregnancy, unfavorable discharge status, genetic information), (In IA - gender identity), (In CA- gender identity or expression, and genetic information) or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.

McWane Ductile is a Drug and Alcohol-Free work environment. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment background check, drug screening and physical.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

McWane is a Federal VEVRAA contractor, and an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices. McWane will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or service member status, marital status, citizenship status (In IL - sex, including same sex, ancestry, order of protection status, physical or mental disability, military status, pregnancy, unfavorable discharge status, genetic information), (In IA - gender identity), (In CA- gender identity or expression, and genetic information) or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.