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Supply Chain Planning Intern

Winland Foods · Oak Brook, IL · Full time

Posted Sep 28, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a project where you had to clean up messy data before you could analyze it. What did you find?

What they are checking: Whether they have real hands-on analytical habits, since this internship is described as primarily analytical.

This internship is heavily project focused. Tell me about a long project you finished mostly on your own.

What they are checking: Whether they can drive work across a full summer without needing daily direction to keep moving.

Tell me about a time you had to juggle a big project with smaller daily tasks. How did you keep both on track?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance the project work with the day-to-day activities the posting says will also be part of the role.

The schedule is in office Monday through Thursday in Oak Brook. What do you hope to learn by being on site with the team?

What they are checking: Whether they have thought about how to use the internship to learn from people, not only to complete assigned tasks.

What would you do

If a forecast for a seasonal item like pie filling is way off, what might be causing it?

What they are checking: Whether they can reason about promotions, seasonality and customer orders rather than assuming the math is simply wrong.

You're halfway through your project and realize your original approach won't answer the question. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they raise problems early and adjust honestly instead of hiding a dead end until the final presentation.

How would you present a recommendation to a planning manager who has done this job for twenty years?

What they are checking: Whether they can share findings with confidence while staying open to the experience of people who know the operation.

About the work

How comfortable are you in Excel? Walk me through how you'd build a sheet comparing forecast to actual demand for a product like pasta sauce.

What they are checking: Whether their spreadsheet skills go past basics to lookups, pivots and clear structure someone else could follow.

In your own words, what does a supply chain planner do, and why does it matter for a food manufacturer?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the link between demand, production and inventory instead of seeing planning as just scheduling.

Winland makes both private label and branded products. How might planning for those two be different?

What they are checking: Whether they can think about how customer commitments and order patterns change planning, which shows curiosity about the business.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Winland Foods from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Winland Foods.

Winland Foods, Inc., based in Oak Brook, IL, is a global manufacturer of private label and branded foods for retail and co-pack customers. We use only the finest ingredients and ensure every product we make meets the highest standards of taste, quality and accessibility. Across all our food categories, we offer customers a range of premium and value solutions to meet the evolving needs of the consumers. We work closely with our customers to offer consumer-loved brands and custom private label products, and also create new innovative products. We specialize in pasta, sauces, syrups, dressings, jams and jellies, pie fillings, pita chips, dry dinners, dry baking ingredients, and more. We are proud to share we have manufacturing facilities across the United States, Canada, and Italy. Employee Type: Full time Location: IL Oak Brook Job Type: Administration Job Posting Title: Supply Chain Planning Intern Job Description: Schedule: (Hybrid) Fridays are remote, while Mon-Thurs are in office Work Location: 2015 Spring Road Suite 400, Oak Brook, IL 60523 Salary: $27.00 per hour, with an additional one-time lump sum payment to support expenses Duration: May to August 2027 – Summer Internship Based out of our Oak Brook, IL office, this role will be heavily project focused, but also involve a variety of day-to-day activities. Primarily an analytical role, this role would support the business on accurate production planning, engage in demand reviews, and support the business in ensuring accurate forecasting. As an intern/coop, you will work independently and as part of various teams, working toward goals on project assignments with guidance provided as needed with the intent of offering opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills for a career in Supply Chain Planning after graduation. In addition to hands-on experience in Supply Chain Planning, this position will provide the intern with: • Formal orientation and on-boarding • Individualized development and feedback • Regular interface with Operations leadership through ‘Lessons from Leaders’ sessions • Exposure to one or more of our manufacturing and/or distribution operations • Organizational and time management skills in managing daily and project work • Experience working with Planning Systems • Networking opportunities • Presentation skills in providing presentation to the Operations Leadership Team Qualifications: • Formal orientation and on-boarding • 2 - 3 years of progress towards a bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or closely related major • Overall and within major GPA of 3.0 or higher • Demonstrated interest in Supply Chain, Operations Planning, and Business Administration through course work or previous internships • Computer savvy, knowledge of ERP systems, and strong skills in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft office applications • Excellent written and verbal communication skills • Ability to effectively interact with senior management • Excellent organizational skills EEO Statement: Winland Foods seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, and as a global company we believe our success is enhanced by fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace. Therefore, Winland Foods is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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