Cost Excellence Engineering Intern - Decatur, IL
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Before you apply
Salary$24 – $27/hr
LocationDecatur, IL - Illinois, Engineering
Work modeon-site
Typeinternship
SeniorityEntry
DepartmentEngineering
Company size10,000+ people
First seenOct 28, 2026 · 1w ago
Verified live1d ago
At a glanceSummarised by Seekless from the posting.
Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, or a related field
Minimum GPA of 2.8
Willing to relocate to one of our ADM locations in North America
3.0 GPA preferred
Completion of sophomore or junior year preferred
Coursework or project experience in Lean, Six Sigma, statistics, process improvement, operations research, manufacturing systems, or engineering economics
Prior internship, co-op, research, or project experience in manufacturing, engineering, operations, or supply chain
Experience with Power BI, Tableau, Minitab, or other analytical tools
Familiarity with process mapping, root cause analysis, Pareto analysis, 5 Why analysis, or DMAIC methodology
Interest in manufacturing, operations, process improvement, and cost reduction
Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills
Comfortable working with data and learning operational metrics
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
Willingness to spend time in manufacturing or plant environments
Interns must have their own reliable transportation to and from work
Successful completion of a background check is required
Work visa sponsorship is not available for this role
Skills
Power BI
Tableau
Minitab
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft PowerPoint
Job Description
Cost Excellence Engineering Intern - Decatur, ILNote: Work visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Position Summary
ADM is seeking a Cost Excellence Engineering Intern to support operational cost improvement initiatives across manufacturing, supply chain, maintenance, engineering, and finance. This internship is ideal for a college student interested in manufacturing operations, process improvement, data analytics, Lean/Six Sigma, energy efficiency, and productivity improvement.
The intern will assist with projects focused on reducing cost per unit, improving yield, increasing asset utilization, reducing waste, optimizing energy performance, and supporting sustainable operational improvements. This role provides hands-on experience in a large-scale manufacturing environment and exposure to cross-functional teams.
Key Responsibilities
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Analyze plant performance data, including cost per unit, yield, downtime, throughput, labor productivity, maintenance cost, and energy usage.
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Help identify productivity gaps, process losses, waste, and cost improvement opportunities.
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Support Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC-based improvement projects.
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Assist with process mapping, data collection, root cause analysis, project charters, action plans, and status updates.
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Participate in continuous improvement meetings, kaizen events, and problem-solving sessions.
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Collect and analyze data related to yield loss, rework, downtime, process variation, and waste.
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Develop basic analytical tools such as Pareto charts, loss trees, trend analyses, dashboards, and scorecards.
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Support efforts to improve energy efficiency and understand energy cost drivers.
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Assist with analysis of equipment downtime, maintenance costs, spare parts usage, uptime, and reliability trends.
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Work with Finance and Operations to help track savings, document results, and summarize recommendations.
Internship Program Requirements:
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Education: Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, or a related field.
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GPA: Minimum GPA of 2.8 (3.0 GPA preferred).
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Transportation: Interns must have their own reliable transportation to and from work.
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Geographical Flexibility: Willing to relocate to one of our ADM locations in North America.
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Completion of sophomore or junior year preferred.
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Background Check: Successful completion of a background check is required.
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Work visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
Preferred Skills or Experience
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Coursework or project experience in Lean, Six Sigma, statistics, process improvement, operations research, manufacturing systems, or engineering economics.
•
Prior internship, co-op, research, or project experience in manufacturing, engineering, operations, or supply chain.
•
Experience with Power BI, Tableau, Minitab, or other analytical tools.
•
Familiarity with process mapping, root cause analysis, Pareto analysis, 5 Why analysis, or DMAIC methodology. Interest in manufacturing, operations, process improvement, and cost reduction.
•
Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
•
Comfortable working with data and learning operational metrics.
•
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
•
Willingness to spend time in manufacturing or plant environments.
Key Competencies
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Data-driven thinking
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Curiosity and willingness to learn
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Structured problem solving
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Attention to detail
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Clear communication
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Team collaboration
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Initiative and ownership
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Interest in continuous improvement and operational excellence
Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.
ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.
REF:113960BR
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Legal
Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.
If hired, employees will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.
The pay range for this position is expected to be between:
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$24.00 - $27.00 per hour
<!–Diversity & EEO Information–>
#IncludingYou
Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM’s efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments — environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.
We welcome everyone to apply. We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, language, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law
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About ADM
At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.
Req/Job ID
114160BR
Ref ID