Supply Chain Intern at Sherman and Reilly Inc – Chattanooga, Tennessee

Position Summary

The Supply Chain Summer Internship is a 12-week, full-time program designed to give a hands-on view of how a manufacturing supply chain operates. You’ll complete four 3-week rotations in:

1. Purchasing
2. Sourcing
3. Quality
4. Focus Area / Project

By the end of the internship, you should be able to:

• Describe how purchasing, sourcing, and quality interact in a manufacturing supply chain.
• Understand the basics of an ERP system in supply chain processes.
• Read and interpret basic supply chain metrics (on-time delivery, supplier performance, nonconformance trends).
• Use Excel and basic data analysis to support decisions and process improvements.
• Apply simple problem-solving and root cause tools to real issues.
• Communicate clearly with suppliers and internal stakeholders in a professional environment.

Reporting Relationships

This position will report to the Purchasing Manager.

Primary Responsibilities

Overall (Across All 12 Weeks)

• Learn how materials, information, and decisions flow through the supply chain in a manufacturing environment.
• Shadow team members in daily work and progressively take ownership of defined tasks.
• Support data analysis and reporting, using tools such as Excel and SAP ByDesign.
• Document processes, create or update work instructions, and suggest improvements.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (e.g., Engineering, Operations, Finance) on assigned tasks or projects.

Rotation 1 – Purchasing

• Assist with purchase order (PO) creation, confirmation, and follow-up with suppliers.
• Support expediting of critical materials and tracking of late orders.
• Help maintain accurate data in the ERP system (e.g., lead times, order status, delivery dates).
• Analyze purchase history for key categories (spend, MOQ, price trends, vendor performance).

Rotation 2 – Sourcing

• Support supplier research for new or alternative sources (e.g., dual sourcing, risk mitigation, lead-time reduction).
• Assist in gathering supplier quotes and comparing price, lead time, MOQ, and commercial terms.
• Help prepare supplier evaluations using quality, delivery, and cost data.
• Participate in supplier onboarding tasks (data setup, documentation collection, basic risk checks).

Rotation 3 – Quality

• Support incoming inspection activities by helping review inspection records and material nonconformances.
• Assist in processing Non-Conforming Material Reports (NCMRs) and tracking corrective actions with suppliers or internal teams.
• Support root cause analysis on selected supplier or internal quality issues (e.g., 5-Whys, basic fishbone diagrams).

Rotation 4 – Focus Area / Project

• Support the area that either has the highest business need at that moment or aligns most with your interests and performance, as agreed with your manager.
• Prepare and deliver a brief end-of-internship presentation summarizing your key learnings and continuous improvement suggestions.

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Completion of at least sophomore year by the start of the internship.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable working with data in Excel or similar tools.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work on-site in a manufacturing setting and collaborate with both hourly and salaried employees.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and willing to ask questions and learn.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or exposure to procurement, sourcing, operations, or quality.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.) or similar tools.
• Familiarity with basic process improvement concepts (e.g., standard work, root cause analysis, continuous improvement).
• Interest in manufacturing and industrial equipment/products.

Program Details

• Duration: 12 weeks (Summer 2026)
• Schedule: Full-time, typically Monday–Friday
• Location: Chattanooga, TN
• Travel: No travel required