Student Assistant - – Continuous Improvement / Lean Operations

Join us to Make an Impact

Innovation is in our DNA. We invented supercontinuum lasers and photonic crystal fibers and we constantly reimagine how our products can be used and improved. Our customers use our products in medical and life science research, quantum computing and space exploration. 

We seek curious, creative and collaborative people to work in our cutting-edge company. Can you see yourself working in teams and providing solutions for innovators? 

If you wish to apply, please contact us with your CV / Résumé. If you have a cover letter, please save this in one document with your CV / Résumé as you are only able to upload one document. 

We look forward to hearing from you!

​Purpose of the role

Support the Continuous Improvement Engineer in the long-term implementation of Lean principles, with particular focus on making materials flow through the value stream. The role combines data analysis, improvement activities and practical transactional tasks needed to keep improvement initiatives moving.

Typical responsibilities

• Support analysis of material flow, lead times, WIP, inventory and production performance
• Collect, structure and analyse operational data to identify improvement opportunities
• Support flow improvement activities
• Prepare data, presentations and visual management for improvement workshops and shopfloor meetings
• Follow up on improvement actions and ensure that agreed actions are completed
• Perform practical/transactional tasks in ERP, MES, Excel, Power BI or other relevant systems
• Maintain improvement boards, action lists, standards and documentation
• Support implementation and follow-up of standard work and Lean practices
• Help investigate operational problems and gather the facts needed for root-cause analysis
• Assist with pilots, trials and implementation of improvements on the shopfloor
• Ad-hoc analysis and execution tasks as required to support the CI agenda

What we are looking for

• Student within Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Data/Business Analytics or a related field
• Analytical and structured approach, with an interest in understanding how things actually work in a production environment
• Comfortable working with data and Excel; experience with Power BI, ERP/MES (Manufacturing Execution System) or similar systems is an advantage
• Willing to get hands-on and work both with data and with people on the shopfloor
• Able to take ownership of smaller tasks and drive them to completion
• Curious, proactive and not afraid to ask questions
• Interest in Lean, operational excellence and continuous improvement is an advantage

What we offer

• A hands-on opportunity to work with Lean transformation in a highly engineered manufacturing environment
• Exposure to the full value stream from planning and material supply through production including especially warehousing and delivery
• Opportunity to work closely with the Continuous Improvement Engineer, Procurement, Warehouse and Production
• Practical experience applying Lean principles rather than only studying them
• A role where the student can gradually take ownership of improvement activities and analysis

The student should be someone who is happy to spend one hour analysing Inventory levels on the Purchased Parts Marked in a spreadsheet and the next hour walking the production floor to understand why. This is NOT a “junior analyst” role. The combination of analysis + transactional execution + shopfloor work is a MUST a Lean transformation.

Keep your personal data safe

Hamamatsu ("The Company") take responsibly for the protection of your personal data. Accordingly, upon receiving your job application and additional material you choose to submit, the Company keeps a safe and secure environment and ensures confidentiality.

You also have a role to play in keeping your personal data safe. We request you only submit personal data about yourself in your job application, CV / Résumé or other relevant material you choose to provide to us that is relevant for the specific job opening you are applying for.

Please consider whether there is personal information you are about to submit, such as health information, information on family relations, information on trade union membership, etc. that is not necessary for our recruitment process or the job opening you are applying for. Please also be aware that certificates or other documents are not necessary for the vacancy. We urgently request you to redact/cross out such information before you submit your job application.

Thank you.