Manufacturing Cost Reduction Analyst
Apply now »Date: Aug 31, 2026
Location: Hickory, NC, US, 28601
Company: Corning
Requisition Number: 77535
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.
Purpose of the Position
The Manufacturing Cost Reduction Analyst supports global manufacturing cost reduction initiatives through portfolio reporting, data analytics, and reporting tool development. This role partners with manufacturing sites, Engineering, Finance, and Supply Chain to interpret cost reduction projects, improve reporting visibility, support savings validation, and communicate clear insights to leadership.
This position is well suited for a candidate with an engineering, manufacturing, operations, or process improvement background who is interested in expanding their exposure across manufacturing performance, cost reduction, and division-level decision-making. The ideal candidate is analytically strong, communicates well across functions, and can apply manufacturing understanding to support cost reduction reporting, project interpretation, and business insight.
Key Responsibilities:
- Drive the monthly cost reduction reporting cycle across global manufacturing sites, ensuring portfolio accuracy, data integrity, and timely reporting
- Collect, validate, and maintain cost reduction project data aligned with division targets
- Review project inputs for completeness, consistency, and reasonableness, and coordinate with site teams and Finance to resolve questions and validate assumptions
- Develop working knowledge of manufacturing processes, cost reduction projects, and process improvement opportunities to interpret reported savings and identify concerns or follow-up items
- Prepare and communicate monthly cost reduction reports, ad hoc analyses, and leadership updates that translate plant and cost data into clear business insights
- Develop, maintain, and improve Power BI dashboards and reporting tools, including opportunities to automate and streamline manual reporting processes
- Support budgeting, forecasting, target-setting, and savings validation activities through coordination with Finance and site teams
- Drive reporting process improvements related to data quality, workflow efficiency, and management visibility
- Support engineering cost reduction activities, including workshop preparation, follow-up actions, and portfolio/reporting support as needed
- Serve as a key resource to plant and engineering teams on cost reduction measures, savings interpretation, portfolio visibility, reporting processes, and portfolio data questions across global manufacturing sites
Travel Requirements:
- Occasional domestic or international travel may be required, generally up to 10%
Hours of Work / Work Schedule / Flex-Time:
- Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, with occasional flexibility needed to support deadlines, urgent business needs, or international meetings
Required Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, or a related field.
- 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, operations, process improvement, analytics.
Required Skills:
- Manufacturing or engineering foundation with the ability to understand project inputs and connect operational activities to cost outcomes
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret data, identify inconsistencies, and support sound decision-making
- Experience with Power BI, Excel, and data analysis tools used to summarize, interpret, and present business or operational data
- Ability to build understanding of manufacturing cost drivers and savings logic in support of reporting and portfolio analysis
- Ability to work effectively with Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, and manufacturing site teams in a cross-functional environment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical and data-driven information clearly to a range of stakeholders
- Ability to manage recurring deliverables, prioritize multiple requests, and maintain accuracy in a monthly reporting cycle
- Interest in developing and improving tools, dashboards, and reporting processes that support visibility and decision-making
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, process engineering, continuous improvement, or operations support
- Familiarity with manufacturing cost drivers such as productivity, material utilization, yield, scrap, labor efficiency, and throughput
- Experience with cost reduction, operational excellence, Lean/Six Sigma, or process improvement initiatives
- Exposure to manufacturing finance, cost accounting, budgeting, forecasting, or savings validation
- Experience with Planview or other portfolio/project tracking systems
- Familiarity with Power Query, DAX, Databricks, or similar data transformation and analytics tools
- Experience working across multiple manufacturing sites or in a global or matrixed organization
This position does not support immigration sponsorship.
The range for this position is $95,042.00 - $130,683.00 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 of race, 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 accommodations@corning.com.
Nearest Major Market: Hickory