Manufacturing Quality Intern

Location: Freeport, IL

Manufacturing Quality InternThe Company

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a thriving, values-driven company focused on doing the right things. We’re a fast growing, publicly traded company (NYSE: ZWS), with an enduring reputation for integrity, giving back, and providing an engaging, inclusive environment where careers flourish and grow.

Named by Newsweek as One of America’s Most Responsible Companies and an Energage USA Top Workplace, at Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation, we never forget that our people are at the center of what makes us successful. They are the driving force behind our superior quality, product ingenuity, and exceptional customer experience. Our commitment to our people and their professional development is a recipe for success that has fueled our growth for over 100 years, as one of today’s leading international suppliers of plumbing and water delivery solutions.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation employs over 2800 employees worldwide, working from 24 locations across the U.S., China, Canada, Dubai, and Mexico, with sales offices available around the globe.  We hope you’ll visit our website and learn more about Zurn Elkay at zurnelkay.com.

If you’re ready to join a company where what you do makes a difference and you have pride in the work you are doing, talk to us about joining the Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation family!

If you are a current employee, please navigate here to apply internally.

The Quality / Industrial / Manufacturing Engineering Intern will support key quality improvement and corrective action initiatives across Zurn Elkay's manufacturing operations. This role provides hands-on experience identifying quality issues, conducting root cause investigations, implementing corrective actions, and driving continuous improvement efforts that enhance product quality, operational performance, and customer satisfaction.

Working closely with Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations teams, the intern will help analyze defects, investigate warranty and customer concerns, support corrective action processes, and identify opportunities to improve manufacturing quality systems. This position is ideal for a student interested in quality engineering, manufacturing operations, continuous improvement, and problem-solving in a fast-paced production environment.

Key Focus Areas

Support investigations related to internal quality issues, customer complaints, warranty claims, and manufacturing defects.

Participate in root cause analysis activities utilizing tools such as 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, Pareto Analysis, and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).

Assist in developing, documenting, and implementing corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).

Monitor corrective action effectiveness and validate sustainable solutions.

Track quality improvement projects and provide regular status updates to stakeholders.

Collect and analyze production quality data to identify trends, recurring issues, and opportunities for improvement.

Support manufacturing teams in reducing scrap, rework, defects, and process variation.

Participate in plant floor observations and process audits to identify quality risks.

Assist with inspection processes, testing activities, and quality verification efforts.

Help maintain quality documentation, work instructions, and standard operating procedures.

Utilize quality and operational data to identify performance gaps and improvement opportunities.

Develop reports, dashboards, and presentations that communicate findings and recommendations.

Support statistical analysis and measurement system evaluations as needed.

Assist in tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Customer Service teams to resolve quality concerns.

Participate in continuous improvement and Lean Manufacturing initiatives.

Support implementation of process changes designed to improve product quality and operational efficiency.

Assist in managing project timelines, action item tracking, and project documentation.

Learning & Development Opportunities

Completion of one or more quality improvement and corrective action projects.

Root cause analysis and corrective action recommendations for a significant quality issue.

Analysis of quality performance trends with identified improvement opportunities.

Measurable contribution to reducing defects, scrap, rework, warranty claims, or process variation.

Final presentation summarizing findings, corrective actions, project impact, and future recommendations.

Documented improvements to quality processes, reporting, or operational performance.

Qualifications

Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, mechanical engineering, or other related field.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Excellent communication and organizational abilities.

Ability to work effectively in a manufacturing environment.

Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

​The Salary Range - $20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran

• *THIRD PARTY AGENCY: Any unsolicited submissions received from recruitment agencies will be considered property of Zurn Elkay, and we will not be liable for any fees or obligations related to those submissions.**