Operational Excellence Intern
Cartier — Le Locle: Operational Excellence Intern (Internship). Support Lean projects, process mapping and KPI analysis in watchmaking operations.
Overview
Cartier is a global maison renowned for high jewelry, watches and luxury accessories, and operates within the Richemont Group. The brand combines artisanal craftsmanship with industrial watchmaking expertise and maintains production sites dedicated to precision manufacture and quality excellence.
Role & Responsibilities
- Support operational excellence and continuous improvement projects across production and assembly lines.
- Map processes, conduct time-and-motion studies and identify non-value-added activities.
- Collect, analyse and visualise production data to support KPI tracking and decision-making.
- Prepare clear reports and presentation materials for project reviews and steering committees.
- Assist with implementation of Lean tools (5S, standard work, visual management, PDCA) and monitor results.
- Facilitate cross-functional coordination between production, quality, supply chain and engineering teams.
- Document standard operating procedures and update work instructions following process changes.
- Contribute to root-cause investigations and corrective action plans using structured problem-solving.
Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's programme in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, Business Engineering or a closely related discipline.
- Strong analytical aptitude with demonstrable experience using Excel for data analysis.
- Interest in manufacturing, precision assembly or watchmaking processes and willingness to work on the shop floor.
- Structured thinker with proven project support or team-collaboration experience (academic projects or prior internships).
- Good communication and presentation skills; able to summarise findings for technical and non-technical audiences.
- Familiarity with Lean principles or Six Sigma concepts is advantageous.
Skills
Experience
Internship-level role: candidates should be current students with academic project work or previous short-term internships in manufacturing, operations or process improvement. Prior exposure to shop-floor environments or precision assembly is an advantage.
Education
Enrolled in a relevant Bachelor's or Master's degree (Industrial/Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, Business Engineering or equivalent).
Culture
Cartier combines haute-joaillerie tradition with rigorous industrial standards; teams operate in an environment that prizes craftsmanship, precision and continuous improvement. As part of the Richemont Group, Cartier fosters technical excellence, cross-disciplinary collaboration and an ethos of long-term quality in its manufacture sites.