Operations Excellence Intern - Lean Manufacturing

Other Jobs To Apply

No other job posts for this day.

The Company

Join Halo Industries and be part of a company that's transforming the semiconductor industry with our innovative laser technology. Founded in 2014 and supported by significant funding as of 2024, we're focused on creating efficient solutions that dramatically reduce waste and improve material performance across various sectors such as automotive, telecommunications, and power electronics.

The Opportunity

Halo is transitioning from a startup to a high-volume manufacturing facility for Silicon Carbide (SiC) wafers. As our Ops Excellence Intern, you will be the primary architect for validating how SiC wafers travel from raw ingots to finished substrates and help optimize WIP flow, capacity, and reduce cost. You will use data-driven insights to identify bottlenecks and opportunities through Six Sigma methodologies like Value Stream Mapping and set up scalable models for Capacity, Throughput, and Cycletime. You will help validate and improve our Operation Method Sheets (OMS) and eliminate waste across the entire process.

Responsibilities

Lean Manufacturing Optimization:

  • Value Stream Mapping (VSM): Develop a "cradle-to-grave" map of our SiC manufacturing flow to visualize lead-time drivers and identify process friction.
  • Extended Time Studies: Conduct longitudinal studies across shifts, from incoming ingot characterization to post wafer CMP polish, to establish precise baseline capacities and model them in our MES.
  • OMS Validation: Audit our Operation Method Sheets against real-world floor execution to ensure documentation matches actual high-tech fabrication practices.
  • Process Optimization: Identify "Muda" (waste) in operator movements or tool idle times and pitch data-backed improvements to the Director of Operations.
  • Best Practice Synthesis: Partner with senior technicians to capture tribal knowledge and codify it into standardized, high-efficiency workflows.
  • Model Development: Improve models for Cycle Time, Capacity, and Throughput so they are scalable across time as we grow in volume.
Training and Validation Platform:
  • OMS Standardization: Lead a site-wide project to update all Operation Method Sheets (OMS) to a common, highly visual structure. You’ll ensure every document includes specific Eyelit MES step references and error-proofing (poka-yoke) instructions.
  • Competency Framework: Define the training plan for each critical process. This includes developing quiz and test requirements to validate that operators aren't just "reading" a document but demonstrating true competency.
  • Systems Integration: Execute the digital linkage between Arena PLM and the Eyelit Operator Certification module. You’ll ensure that when a procedure is updated in Arena, the training requirement is automatically triggered.
  • Certification Validation: Configure the "hard gates" within Eyelit MES. Your goal is to ensure the system physically prevents an operator from starting a lot if their certification is expired or missing.
  • Audit Readiness: Organize the training matrix to be "always-audit-ready," ensuring that all competency records are instantly retrievable and linked to the specific version of the OMS in use on the floor.
Pack-out- Ship-out Optimization:
  • Shipping Optimization: Define and document best practices for SiC protection, including Desiccant Packaging, Nitrogen (N2) Backfill, and Double Bagging protocols within a cleanroom environment.
  • Product-Specific Requirements: Differentiate packaging needs for Epi-ready substrates (ultra-low particle counts) versus CMP-ready products, ensuring each has a tailored protection strategy while optimizing cost.
  • Design of Experiments (DOE): Conduct rigorous experiments to validate new packaging methods against our current Plan of Record (POR). You’ll use surface inspection tools to monitor for Time Dependent Haze formation, particle gain, and other defects to identify the "shelf-life" of an unsealed wafer versus one protected by our high-end packaging.
  • PCN Documentation: Prepare the technical data packages required for Process Change Notifications (PCN), providing the evidence needed to upgrade our shipping standards for Tier-1 automotive and industrial customers.

Requirements


Basic Qualifications

  • Currently pursuing a BS/MS in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, or other Engineering degree.
  • Understanding of Lean Manufacturing, you have a desire to expand your knowledge from the classroom to the real world applications of Six Sigma Lean methodologies.(VSM, 5S, Kaizen, etc).

Preferred Qualifications

  • Hands On Mentality: Exceptional observational skills and a "boots-on-the-ground" mentality for data collection, collaboration, and project execution.
  • Communication: Clear communication skills for collaborating with both PhD scientists and production technicians. Good technical writing and ability to present data and create visual training content related to your project with photos, diagrams, videos and interactive content.
  • Systems Thinker: You enjoy connecting the dots between different software platforms (MES, PLM, LMS) to create a seamless user experience.


Benefits


Salary Range : 20 - 25 USD per hour.

Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...