Intern: Performance Improvement & Reliability

Location: New Berlin, NY, US

About the Chobani Internship Program

At Chobani, our interns are part of the team from day one. Through meaningful, hands-on work, interns contribute to real business priorities while gaining experience in their field of interest. The program is designed to give interns end-to-end ownership of a defined project or business problem whenever possible, from understanding the need and building a workplan to executing the work, gathering input, and sharing outcomes or recommendations. Interns are supported through mentorship, manager guidance, cross-functional exposure, networking opportunities, and learning experiences that help them better understand Chobani, La Colombe, our business, and our culture.

Summary

As a Performance Improvement & Reliability Intern, you will join the Performance Improvement & Reliability team, which helps improve manufacturing performance, equipment reliability, asset health, and operational efficiency across the plant. You will partner closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and other cross-functional teams to identify losses, improve equipment performance, strengthen maintenance practices, and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Throughout the internship, you will gain hands-on experience solving real manufacturing challenges related to reliability, downtime, waste, data visibility, automation, and equipment performance. You may lead or support work involving preventive maintenance optimization, asset restoration planning, autonomous maintenance deployment, process automation, data visualization, troubleshooting, and performance improvement initiatives.

Interns are expected to take ownership of a defined project, business problem, or workstream whenever possible, supporting work from problem identification and analysis through implementation, validation, and final recommendations.

This role is based out of our manufacturing facility in South Edmeston, New York, and will require an onsite presence.  This role is not eligible for remote or hybrid work.

Responsibilities

Own or support a defined project, business problem, or improvement initiative from problem identification and planning through implementation, validation, and final recommendations.

Analyze OEE, downtime, waste, PM completion, startup, quality, and labor losses to identify opportunities and prioritize improvement actions

Partner cross-functionally to investigate recurring equipment and process issues using structured problem-solving and root cause analysis

Support preventive maintenance optimization, PM audits, equipment assessments, rebuild plans, critical spare reviews, and reliability improvement initiatives

Support autonomous maintenance deployment through cleaning, inspection, lubrication, defect identification, visual controls, standard work, and operator ownership

Lead or support projects that reduce waste and downtime, improve OEE and reliability, strengthen material flow, or improve labor productivity

Complete floor observations, time studies, data collection, equipment evaluations, troubleshooting, and implementation support

Build dashboards, automated reports, workflows, and data visualization using Excel and Power BI that improve operational visibility, reduce manual work, and accelerate decision-making

Support automation and digitization efforts that improve efficiency, standardization, data accuracy, and the reliability of reporting and performance insights.

Present project outcomes, recommendations, financial impact, lessons learned, and sustainment plans to leaders and key stakeholders

Required Qualifications

Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Operations, Engineering Technology, or a related technical field, ideally with an expected graduation date between December 2027 and June 2028

Experience using Excel for data analysis, organization, and reporting

Demonstrated experience analyzing data through coursework, projects, research, internships, student organizations, or work experience

Demonstrated experience working on team-based projects involving multiple stakeholders, disciplines, or functional groups

Experience presenting project findings, recommendations, or outcomes through coursework, projects, research, internships, or work experience

Willingness to relocate to the South Edmeston area for the duration of the internship and work on-site within a manufacturing environment

Able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 35 lbs, stand for 12 hours, bend, stoop, and reach

Preferred Qualifications

Experience creating dashboards, reports, or data visualizations using Power BI, Power Automate, Excel, or similar tools

Coursework, projects, internships, or work experience related to manufacturing, reliability, maintenance, engineering, continuous improvement, or operations

Experience using structured problem-solving or root cause analysis methodologies

Interest in manufacturing operations, equipment reliability, maintenance excellence, or continuous improvement

About Us

Chobani is a food maker with a mission of making high-quality and nutritious food accessible to more people, while elevating our communities and making the world a healthier place. In short: making good food for all. In support of this mission, Chobani is a purpose-driven, people-first, food-and-wellness-focused company, and has been since its founding in 2005 by Hamdi Ulukaya, an immigrant to the U.S. The Company manufactures yogurt, oat milk, and creamers – Chobani yogurt is America's No.1 yogurt brand, made with natural ingredients without artificial preservatives. Following the 2023 acquisition of La Colombe, a leading coffee roaster with a shared commitment to quality, craftmanship and impact, the Company began selling cold-pressed espresso and lattes on tap at cafés nationwide, as well as Ready to Drink (RTD) coffee beverages at retail. In 2025, Chobani acquired