Production Manager: Lead Safe, Lean Manufacturing

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

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonuses

Pension plan

Health benefits

Paid time off

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Corning Inc. in Hickory, NC is seeking a Production Manager to lead a manufacturing operations department, driving safety, quality, delivery, cost and productivity with strategic and day-to-day leadership.

You will coach production teams, plan labor and equipment, improve uptime and OEE, support new product introduction, and steer continuous improvement while managing budgets. A Bachelor's in engineering and 5+ years of manufacturing leadership are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or technical discipline is required.
• Minimum 5 years of manufacturing or operations experience.
• Minimum 3–5 years of leadership or supervisory experience in manufacturing.
• Demonstrated leadership with safety and performance focus.
• Strong problem-solving and data-driven decision-making.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication across all levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead department operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity targets.
• Foster and maintain a safe work environment, ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and company standards.
• Provide leadership and direction to production teams and supervisors, including coaching and performance management.
• Plan and allocate labor, equipment, and materials to meet production demand and priorities.
• Monitor and improve equipment and process performance, including uptime and OEE.
• Lead resolution of operational issues through data-driven problem solving and cross-functional collaboration.
• Support new product introduction, equipment installation, and start‑up activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity and cost reduction.
• Manage departmental budgets and resource utilization.
• Communicate performance, priorities, and risks to plant leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Safety

Data-driven

Communication

Problem-solving

Planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or technical discipline

Job description

Corning Inc. in Hickory, NC is seeking a Production Manager to lead a manufacturing operations department, driving safety, quality, delivery, cost and productivity with strategic and day-to-day leadership.

You will coach production teams, plan labor and equipment, improve uptime and OEE, support new product introduction, and steer continuous improvement while managing budgets. A Bachelor's in engineering and 5+ years of manufacturing leadership are required.