What are the responsibilities and job description for the Engineering Co-Op - 2025 position at Avient Corporation?
About Us
Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.
Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it's powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you're a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you'll find your place at Avient.
Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!
Job Summary
The Co-Op Student is an entry level production / process engineering position which allows an engineering student, following their second year of formal studies, to gain hands-on experience in the manufacturing setting. A successful Co-Op Student candidate will work three full rotations (fourth optional), each at a different Avient operation associated with a different one of the Avient business segments. In some cases, for later rotations Co-op students may be provided (based on their interest and Avient need) with opportunities to complete one rotation in corporate functions (for example EHS or R&D). The specific assignments are geared to the needs of the plant during that time, as well as the interests of the Co-Op Student - but are developed with a view to developing leadership competencies and process engineering capabilities. Students will be provided with specific mentors on project activity and will receive coaching from senior manufacturing personnel. Orientation training is provided at the start of the 1st and 2nd work semesters and students will report out on their activity each semester to representatives of PolyOne's senior manufacturing management including EVP, Manufacturing and HR director(s). Networking opportunities within the Avient organization are a critical program component.
Essential Functions
- To support the vision, mission and guiding principles of the company.
- Observe all applicable Safety, Health, and Environmental rules and guidelines. The use of appropriate personal protective equipment is required.
- Adhere to appropriate company operating procedures, benefit rules, employment policies, and safety policies.
- Carry out process engineering related project activity - specific projects will be dependent on operation needs and student desired focus areas.
- Students will both work projects independently (with mentorship) and as part of functional teams at the operation. Examples of historical project activity include:
- Operation productivity enhancement:
- Rate improvement
- Changeover reduction
- Yield improvement - 1st pass quality improvement
- Waste (lean) elimination
- Equipment reliability related activity (downtime reduction)
- Small capital project work (specification of requirements, capital request submission including ROI justification, oversight of install and commissioning)
- Resolving EHS related issues
- Resolving quality or customer complaint issues
- Other duties as assigned
Education and Experience
Pursuing Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related field.
1 years of experience preferred (can include strong internship experience)
Some awareness of LSS and lean manufacturing will be considered an asset
Additional Qualifications
Willingness and ability to travel.
Must be able to read/comprehend written and oral instructions in English; read and comprehend safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals and product recipes/material identifications.
Must have ability to reason and develop critical thinking skills
Physical Demands
Must have manual dexterity sufficient to operate a wide variety of small hand tools, scales, spatula, barrel cart, hand trucks, fork lift, utility knife, and mixer/blender machinery and computer equipment.
Significant amounts of time on operations plant floor will require, extended periods of standing and walking. Operations can be hot environments.
Avient Leadership Behaviors
We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.
By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient's strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.
At Avient, we believe a wide variety of thoughts, ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person's qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.
Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran's status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application, please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing, ApplicationAccommodation@Avient.com.
PolyOne is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer and provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, or other legally protected classification in the state in which a person is seeking employment. PolyOne will use E-Verify to ensure employment eligibility of newly hired employees where required.
