Production Manager

Corning Inc.; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 121,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses & incentives

Pension plan

Health benefits

Paid parental leave

Employee recognition

Job summary

Corning Inc. in Hickory, NC seeks a Production Manager to lead a manufacturing operations department focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.

You will provide both strategic and day-to-day leadership to production teams, ensuring operational excellence and alignment with plant priorities. The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a technical field, at least five years in manufacturing, and three to five years of supervisory experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical field.
• Minimum 5 years in manufacturing or operations.
• 3–5 years of leadership or supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong safety and performance focus.
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate teams while delivering results.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills using data and operational metrics.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills across all levels of the organization.
• Strong organizational, planning, and execution skills.
• Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience.
• Experience supporting new product introduction, equipment start-up, or process transfers into manufacturing.
• Exposure to multiple equipment platforms or manufacturing processes.
• Coaching and talent development.
• Accountability and performance management.
• Cross-functional collaboration.
• Conflict resolution and decision-making

Responsibilities

• Lead department operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity targets.
• Foster and maintain a safe work environment, ensuring compliance with all safety, environmental, and company standards.
• Provide leadership and direction to production teams and supervisors, including coaching, performance management, and development.
• Plan and allocate labor, equipment, and materials to meet production demand and operational priorities.
• Monitor and improve equipment and process performance, including uptime, yield, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Lead resolution of operational issues through data-driven problem solving and cross-functional collaboration.
• Support new product introduction, equipment installation, and start-up activities to ensure successful transition into manufacturing.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, efficiency, and cost reduction.
• Manage departmental budgets, spending, and resource utilization to meet financial and operational targets.
• Communicate operational performance, priorities, and risks to plant leadership and key stakeholders.
• Ensure workforce readiness, staffing alignment, and capability development to meet current and future business needs.

Skills

Leadership

Safety focus

Problem solving

Communication

Data-driven decisions

Team development

Cross-functional collaboration

Conflict resolution

Organizational skills

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or technical discipline

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

MES

Statistical analysis

Data visualization tools

Job description

The company built on breakthroughs.
Join us.

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what's possible.

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations- not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company,and the world, forward.

At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.

Come break through with us.

Our Optical Communications segment has recently evolved from being a manufacturer of optical fiber and cable, hardware and equipment to being a comprehensive provider of industry-leading optical solutions across the broader communications industry.This segment is classified into two main product groupings - carrier network and enterprise network. The carrier network product group consists primarily of products and solutions for optical-based communications infrastructure for services such as video, data and voice communications. The enterprise network product group consists primarily of optical-based communication networks sold to businesses, governments and individuals for their own use.

Role Purpose

The Production Manager leads a manufacturing operations department to achieve performance objectives in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity. This role provides both strategic and day-to-day leadership to production teams, ensuring operational excellence, workforce capability, and alignment with plant and business priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead department operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity targets
• Foster and maintain a safe work environment, ensuring compliance with all safety, environmental, and company standards
• Provide leadership and direction to production teams and supervisors, including coaching, performance management, and development
• Plan and allocate labor, equipment, and materials to meet production demand and operational priorities
• Monitor and improve equipment and process performance, including uptime, yield, and overall equipment effectiveness
• Lead resolution of operational issues through data-driven problem solving and cross-functional collaboration
• Support new product introduction, equipment installation, and start-up activities to ensure successful transition into manufacturing
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, efficiency, and cost reduction
• Manage departmental budgets, spending, and resource utilization to meet financial and operational targets
• Communicate operational performance, priorities, and risks to plant leadership and key stakeholders
• Ensure workforce readiness, staffing alignment, and capability development to meet current and future business needs

Experiences/Education - Required

• Bachelor’s degree required; Engineering or technical discipline preferred
• Minimum 5 years of manufacturing or operations experience
• Minimum 3–5 years of leadership or supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated leadership in manufacturing operations with a strong focus on safety and performance
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate teams while delivering results
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills using data and operational metrics
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Effective verbal and written communication skills across all levels of the organization
• Strong organizational, planning, and execution skills
• Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience
• Experience supporting new product introduction, equipment start-up, or process transfers into manufacturing
• Exposure to multiple equipment platforms or manufacturing processes
• Coaching and talent development
• Accountability and performance management
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Conflict resolution and decision-making

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

The range for this position is $120,797.00-$166,096.00 assuming full time status. Starting pay for the successful applicant is dependent on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education.

A job that shapes a life.

Corning offers you the total package.

Your well-being is our priority. Our compensation and benefits package supports your health and wellness, financial aspirations, and career from day one.

• Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well. When Corning wins, we all win.
• As part of our commitment to your financial well-being, we provide a 100% company-paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow throughout your career. Combined with matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, Corning’s total contributions to your retirement accounts can reach between 7% and 12% of your pay, depending on your age and years of service.
• Our health and well-being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, family building support, fitness, company-paid life insurance, disability, disease management programs, paid time off, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your family.
• Getting paid for our work is important, but feeling appreciated and recognized for those contributions motivates us much more. That’s why Corning offers a recognition program to celebrate successes and reward colleagues who make exceptional contributions.

We prohibit discrimination on the basis ofrace, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits and privileges of employment. To submit a request for reasonable accommodation related to disability or religion, please contact us at [e-mail] .