Distribution & Inventory Planning Intern, Color Plus
Chicago, IL, US, 60601
James Hardie is the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, composite and PVC decking and railing products. Our family of trusted brands includes Hardie®, TimberTech®, AZEK® Exteriors, Versatex®, fermacell®, and StruXure®.
With over 8,000 employees and our U.S. operating entities headquartered in Chicago, we boast 31 operating sites, 6 recycling facilities, and 6 research and development centers globally. Powered by a dynamic workforce, we’re united by our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™ through sustainable innovation, a Zero Harm culture, and a commitment to empowering our people and communities.
For more information, visit www.jameshardie.com.
Summary
As an intern at James Hardie, you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in your chosen field, whether it be HR, Engineering, Finance, Marketing, IT, or another function. This is a 12-week paid internship program designed to provide you with valuable insights into the industry, enhance your skills, and prepare you for a successful career. You will work closely with experienced professionals, contributing to real projects that impact our business. Additionally, you will have access to exclusive mentoring opportunities to help guide your professional development.
What You’ll Do:
General Responsibilities:
- Work with team members on diverse projects and tasks.
- Perform research and analysis to aid project objectives.
- Create reports, presentations, and necessary documentation.
- Engage in team meetings and share ideas.
- Learn and implement industry best practices and company standards.
Functional Responsibilities:
- Executes inter-plant transfer strategies to enable high service of non-make items and recognizes capacity constraints within manufacturing facilities to maintain high service at lowest landed cost
- Executing of inter-plant transfers, rail replenishments and order movements to maximize customer service while minimizing freight expenses.
- Manages all planning tools including master data to execute effective planning resulting in timely service and reduce/avoid excess and obsolete inventory.
- Monitors material availability and outbound inter-plant transfer service while managing truck building/rearranging process of inter-plant transfers to support actual customer order service goals.
- Provides detailed scheduling production plans for single/multiple manufacturing facilities using an APO planning platform
- Providing timely delivery of daily production plans while adhering to planning best practice methodology.
- Understanding and incorporating manufacturing constraints in scheduling rules to maximize resource efficiency and minimize inventory stock-outs.
- Providing proactive communication with key plant personnel to ensure adherence to schedule and processes.
- Collaborating with plant personnel to develop plan of action for shortages including scheduled and unscheduled downtime to ensure high customer service.
- Other project work within the production planning team as time permits.
What You’ll Bring:
- Must be enrolled in a bachelor's program in a relevant discipline at an accredited university, with an anticipated graduation date between December 2026 and May 2028 (rising junior or rising senior).
- Demonstrated strong academic performance with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Must be available to work full-time for 12 weeks during the summer of 2026.
- Must have reliable transportation to and from the work location.
- Must be authorized to work in the US.
Preferred Skills:
- Knowledge of supply chain, transportation, and logistics.
- Superior interpersonal and written/oral communication skills with the ability to relate well and cooperate with others to effectively.
- Some analytical skills with the various features of spreadsheet and basic software (Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Ability to collaborate effectively with plant personnel to develop action plans in reaction to product/production issues while still ensuring a high-level of customer service.
- Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks and prioritize workload while paying attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to function as a strong team player.
What You’ll Receive:
- As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this position is $22 to $25. Placement in the range depends on several factors such as experience, skills, geography and may change over time
- Full-time work experience
- Meaningful projects
- Mentorship and guidance
- Feedback and evaluation
- Company culture
- Networking opportunities and skill development
James Hardie Building Products Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other basis protected by law.
James Hardie will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies.
The position responsibilities outlined above are in no way to be construed as all encompassing. Other duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may be required and/or assigned as necessary.
Nearest Major Market: Chicago
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