Operations Section Supervisor

Purpose of the Position: Provide direction and leadership to the department. Supervise the team leaders that manage the operations teams. Define and implement improvements within operations, including lean, operational excellence, increased technical skills, safety projects and performance gains. To lead and/or support project teams to develop new manufacturing technology to reduce costs, increase capacity and/or improve product.  This position will be based in our new state of the art facility in Hemlock, MI.

Required Education, Skills & Experience

• High School or equivalent diploma.
• Considerable leadership experience in functional or project roles(s)
• 4+ years of manufacturing and/or engineering experience
• Leadership skills to both communicate expectations and hold individuals accountable.
• Ability to supervise and lead direct and indirect employees.
• Able to collaborate across organizational boundaries and integrate solutions.
• Results oriented and high commitment.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize work independently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Project management skills.
• Creative and innovative problem-solving skills.
• Can thoroughly carry assignments to completion.
• Basic skills for data collection and data analysis.

Desired Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree, BS (or equivalent) in Engineering preferred
• Supervisory skills, particularly in coaching technical employees
• Six Sigma Greenbelt/DMAIC certification
• Lean Manufacturing techniques and knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting (budget tracking/spending)

Soft Skills

• Personal initiative and commitment
• Organized with good planning and time management skills
• Ability to build relationships within cross functional groups; team building skills
• Positive attitude, flexible and strong work ethic
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Ability to allocate/supervise resources to accomplish goals (directly and indirectly)
• Ability to coach and develop others

Key Responsibilities

• Work to achieve cost, quality, health, and safety objectives.
• Execute the plant objectives at the tactical level focused on continuous improvement.
• Schedule resources and prioritizes activities to assure efficient production schedule compliance to include product job changes, upgrades, experiments, new product development, training, and maintenance activities.
• Provide daily direction to employees and team leaders using established guidelines, procedures, and policies.
• Communicate and report operations performance metrics to production teams, plant operations staff and functional leaders. Ensure production targets and delivery requirements are met daily, weekly, and monthly.
• Perform performance reviews and talent development plans for salaried/indirect labor and hourly/direct labor employees.
• Provide coaching to team members to assist with their professional development, particularly technical development through fundamental understanding (PEx, MEE, and scientific method)
• Ensure that the production process is operating in compliance with established process control set points and operating procedures.
• Develop, implement, and monitor training, qualification, certification and development programs for new and experienced operators and shift supervisors.
• Build effective relations with plant support groups.
• Ensure team executes documented operating procedures and follows established document control protocols.
• Hold operators accountable for adherence to established procedures and setpoints for process control; ensures awareness and compliance to changes.
• Receive and integrate new technologies to improve process capability while ensuring proper processes are followed. Enforce process discipline and rigorous change control.
• Actively engage in plant safety initiatives and projects.
• Execute cost reduction, lean and/or PEx projects (DMAIC/DESIGN) in line with business objectives.
• Ensure the protection of Corning’s Intellectual Property (IP).
• Develop and use project plans and timelines to achieve project goals without sacrificing safety, intellectual property, or quality.  Adhere to all Corporate, Business Unit, and Site guidelines for same.