Production Manager
Corning · Hickory, NC
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Base pay
- $121k–$166k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at Corning (industrial) in Hickory, NC.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma
- Base pay
- $121k–$166k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in North Carolina: typical posted base $114k–$166k. This one lists $121k–$166k.
Median of the low and high ends of 12 live postings that list pay, out of 49 production engineer openings in North Carolina, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
North Carolina plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 48 other live production postings in North Carolina.
- Base pay
- About 10% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (5+ vs 7+)
Typical $107k–$154k, from 11 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 45%
- ✓ Team leadership 45%
- ✓ Six Sigma 31%
- Automation 24%
- EHS / safety 22%
- Root cause 20%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Corning
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Corning in Hickory
17 other open roles at this site.
- Automation Process Engineer · Controls
- Operations Engineer · Production
- Sr. Controls Engineer · Controls · Senior
- Production Supervisor · Production · Supervisor
- Sr. Process Engineer · Process · Senior
- Laser Process Engineer · Process
Production Manager at Corning in other locations
Corning lists this title in 2 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
- Winston-Salem, NC · $136k–$187k
Full description from CorningAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
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
Experiences/Education - Desired
- ✓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
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Requisition Number: 76249
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.
Leadership Competencies
- •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.
- •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 of