Production Manager: Safety, Quality & Growth

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

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Pension plan

Medical insurance

Paid parental leave

Life insurance

Disability plan

Paid time off

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Job summary

Corning Incorporated in Hickory, NC is seeking a Production Manager to lead a manufacturing operations department, achieving safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity objectives. The role provides both strategic and day-to-day leadership to production teams, ensuring operational excellence and alignment with plant priorities.

The successful candidate will drive continuous improvement, plan labor and equipment, mentor staff, and collaborate across functions to resolve issues and introduce

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or technical discipline
• 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

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

Data-driven decisions

Operations management

Communication

Planning & execution

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Job description

Corning Incorporated in Hickory, NC is seeking a Production Manager to lead a manufacturing operations department, achieving safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity objectives. The role provides both strategic and day-to-day leadership to production teams, ensuring operational excellence and alignment with plant priorities.

The successful candidate will drive continuous improvement, plan labor and equipment, mentor staff, and collaborate across functions to resolve issues and introduce