Interview preparation plan: Industrial Engineering Intern (College Work Experience Program) at Lockheed Martin

Practice questions (20)

1. Tell me about a time you led a team through a crisis.
2. Describe a situation where you convinced someone of an idea.
3. Tell me about a conflict with a colleague/manager and how you resolved it.
4. Tell me about a project where you collaborated with other teams.
5. Describe a difficult decision you had to make quickly.
6. Tell me about when you had to adapt to a major change.
7. Tell me about a mistake you made and what you learned.
8. Describe a time when you had to give constructive feedback.
9. Tell me about a time you took initiative to improve a process.
10. Describe a time when you had to balance multiple priorities.
11. Tell me about a time you mentored someone.
12. Describe a situation where you had to meet a tight deadline.
13. Tell me about a time you received criticism and how you handled it.
14. Describe a time when you had to work with someone who had a different work style.
15. Tell me about a time you had to handle a stressful situation.
16. Describe a time when you had to learn something quickly.
17. Tell me about a time you worked on a team with diverse perspectives.
18. What are the steps in the engineering design process?
19. How do you calculate process efficiency?
20. What is Six Sigma, and how is it applied?

Questions to ask the interviewer (8)

• How does Lockheed Martin foster innovation among its engineering teams?
• What are the key expectations for the Industrial Engineering Intern in the first three months?
• Can you describe the team dynamics within the engineering department?
• What growth opportunities are available for interns at Lockheed Martin?
• What are the biggest challenges currently faced by the engineering team?
• How does leadership support intern development at Lockheed Martin?
• What strategic initiatives is Lockheed Martin focusing on in the next few years?
• How is Lockheed Martin addressing sustainability in its engineering practices?

Study topics (8)

• Lean Manufacturing Principles and Techniques

  Study core lean concepts including value stream mapping, 5S, Kaizen, waste reduction (7 wastes), and Just-In-Time (JIT) production. Review real-world applications in aerospace manufacturing to reduce costs and increase yields. This is essential as the role requires applying lean techniques to support production operations at Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control facility.

• Basic Industrial Engineering Principles

  Learn fundamentals like process analysis, work measurement, ergonomics, and production planning. Focus on how these apply to manufacturing environments, especially in defense and aerospace. Desired skills explicitly list familiarity with basic IE principles for tasks in production operations.

• Time Studies and Work Measurement

  Study methods for conducting time studies, stopwatch techniques, predetermined motion time systems (e.g., MTM), and rating factors. Understand how to analyze cycle times to improve efficiency in assembly lines. This is a key desired skill for optimizing production processes at the Orlando facility.

• Facilities Layout and Design

  Review principles of facility layout planning, including process, product, and cellular layouts, flow optimization, and space utilization. Practice sketching basic layouts for manufacturing floors. Listed as desired knowledge to support production operations and continuous improvement.

• AutoCAD for Engineering Drawings

  Master basics of AutoCAD including 2D drafting, layers, blocks, and dimensioning for layout and process diagrams. Explore aerospace-specific applications like equipment placement. Directly mentioned as desired software skill for industrial engineering tasks.

• Discrete Event Simulation Modeling

  Learn simulation basics using tools like Arena or FlexSim for modeling production lines, bottleneck analysis, and scenario testing. Understand inputs like arrival rates and processing times. Specified as desired knowledge for analyzing manufacturing systems.

• Microsoft Excel for Data Analysis in IE

  Practice advanced Excel functions, pivot tables, charts, and VBA macros for time study data, yield calculations, and lean metrics. Tie to cost reduction and continuous improvement projects. Essential as part of Microsoft Office proficiency required for the role.

• Lockheed Martin Behavioral Competencies

  Prepare examples demonstrating collaboration, curiosity, goal-orientation, proactivity, problem-solving, and strategic thinking using STAR method. Relate to team-based production environments. Core to Lockheed's culture and team effectiveness in internships.