Preparing for Your O-I Glass Interview: Top Questions and Answers

Landing an interview at O-I Glass is an exciting opportunity to join a global leader in glass packaging solutions. With over 22000 employees across 23 countries, O-I Glass produces over 20 million glass containers per day!

However, the interview process can seem daunting. You want to impress the hiring managers and prove you’re the ideal candidate for the job.

This in-depth guide will help you ace your O-I Glass interview. We’ll cover

• An overview of O-I Glass’s hiring process
• The most common interview questions asked and how to prepare winning answers
• Tips to stand out before, during, and after the interview

Let’s get started!

Overview of the O-I Glass Interview Process

The interview process at O-I Glass often involves multiple stages, including:

• Initial phone/video screening with a recruiter
• In-person or video interviews with hiring managers and team members
• Assessment tests or exercises
• Plant tours (for on-site roles)

The process can take several weeks from initial contact to final decision. Strong communication with your recruiter is key.

During interviews, O-I Glass assesses both your technical abilities and cultural fit. They want problem-solvers who embody their core values of trust, integrity, and commitment.

Come prepared to demonstrate your expertise as well as your work ethic, team skills, and alignment with the company mission.

15 Most Common O-I Glass Interview Questions

Let’s look at some of the most frequently asked interview questions at O-I Glass and examples of strong responses:

1. Why are you interested in working at O-I Glass?

This is your chance to show enthusiasm for the company and role. Research O-I Glass’s mission, values, and products. Highlight specific reasons why you’re excited to contribute your skills and experience.

Example response: “I’m interested in O-I Glass because of your commitment to sustainable packaging and innovative glass production. Reducing waste through recyclable materials aligns with my own values. I also appreciate your focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. If hired, I know I could use my engineering background to help develop the next generation of eco-friendly glass packaging.”

2. What experience do you have operating glass production machinery?

For manufacturing roles, interviewers want to gauge your hands-on expertise with glass equipment. Discuss your background operating specific machinery while highlighting safety practices and any process improvements you implemented.

Example response: “In my current role, I oversee operations for our IS machine, which handles glass molding and forming. I have experience troubleshooting issues, optimizing efficiency, and training new machine operators. Previously, I worked with annealing lehrs and ensured proper temperature protocols were followed to relieve internal stresses in glass products.”

3. How do you handle shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment?

Change is constant at busy manufacturing facilities like O-I Glass. Share examples of how you stay organized, prioritize effectively, and communicate with stakeholders when priorities change unexpectedly.

Example response: “In my last job, we often had to adjust timelines or resources to accommodate urgent client requests. When this happened, I would re-evaluate all projects on my plate based on new deadlines and importance levels. I’d touch base with team members to delegate tasks as needed. I also kept leadership closely informed of any potential delays or risks caused by the change. This agility is crucial when priorities shift rapidly.”

4. Tell us about a time you trained someone on new machinery or processes.

Mentorship abilities are valued at O-I Glass. Discuss a specific example of how you successfully trained someone on equipment or processes while catering to their learning style.

Example response: “When our facility implemented a new automated palletizing system, I was tasked with training machine operators on the new technology. To start, I created step-by-step instructions with photos that they could reference. During hands-on demonstrations, I encouraged questions and allowed extra time for those who needed it. Within two weeks, the entire team felt confident using the new system independently – a faster uptake than expected. It was rewarding to see them master such a major process change.”

5. How do you promote and maintain safety in the workplace?

Safety is paramount at manufacturing plants. Share ways you have advocated for safe practices like PPE use, hazard identification, and protocol adherence. Any specific incidents where you acted quickly to prevent an accident demonstrate safety leadership.

Example response: “In my experience, the key to workplace safety is consistency – ensuring protocols are followed every day, not just when it’s convenient. As a supervisor, I conduct regular safety audits and provide constructive feedback to my team on areas of improvement. I also make a point to recognize those who are modelling excellent safety behaviour, so others are motivated to follow suit. Most importantly, I lead by example by rigidly adhering to all safety guidelines myself.”

6. Tell us about a time you successfully solved a technical problem.

Manufacturing facilities rely heavily on equipment running smoothly. Discuss a situation where you systematically diagnosed and solved a technical problem through critical thinking and expertise.

Example response: “When one of our furnaces began fluctuating in temperature uncontrollably, I immediately halted production to inspect the equipment. Through a process of elimination, I identified a faulty thermocouple that was sending bad data to the temperature controller. After replacing the part, the furnace stabilized again within the target range. Diagnosing tricky equipment issues on the fly comes with the territory in manufacturing, and I enjoy the challenge.”

7. How do you keep your technical skills current in the glass production field?

O-I Glass values continuous learning in your profession. Discuss proactive ways you stay up-to-date on glass manufacturing technologies and industry trends through courses, publications, events, professional groups, and more.

Example response: “To keep my expertise sharp, I make it a priority to continually learn about new developments in glass manufacturing. For example, I attend industry conferences like the Glass Packaging Institute’s annual meeting to hear directly from thought leaders on emerging technologies. I’m also active in professional organizations like the American Ceramics Society where I can exchange ideas with peers. Reading industry publications regularly also helps me stay on top of new innovations and best practices.”

8. Tell us about a time you successfully negotiated with a supplier or partner.

O-I Glass relies on materials and services from vendors around the world. Share an example where you secured favorable terms for your company using negotiation strategies like building rapport, compromise, and leveraging market factors to your advantage.

Example response: “Recently, our regular sand supplier proposed a 10% price increase due to rising fuel costs for transportation. While understandable, this extra expense would significantly impact our tight budget. Through collaborative discussions focused on the mutual benefits of our long-term partnership, I negotiated a more reasonable 5% seasonal price increase. This achieved cost savings without severing an important business relationship. In any negotiation, I aim for an optimal outcome that works for both parties.”

9. How do you ensure sustainability is factored into business decisions?

Sustainability is a core value at O-I Glass. Discuss how you have advocated for eco-friendly choices in previous roles – whether related to materials sourcing, operations, partnerships, products, etc.

Example response: “I believe sustainability should be top of mind in every business decision. For example, at my last company I performed an audit of all our raw materials suppliers to assess their environmental practices. I identified opportunities to source from vendors with stronger sustainability commitments and proposed a plan to leadership. While not always the easiest option, I consistently demonstrate how protecting the environment and business growth can go hand-in-hand.”

10. Why do you want to work in the glass container manufacturing industry?

Show enthusiasm for the essential role of glass packaging specifically. Use facts about O-I Glass’s impact and future direction to explain why you’re passionate about playing a part in the company’s sustainability mission.

Example response: “What draws me to the glass container industry is its critical role in reducing waste compared to other packaging options. With over 90% of glass containers recovered for recycling, I want to be part of improving these sustainability metrics even further. O-I Glass also constantly pushes the boundaries of glass manufacturing with innovations like lightweighting. I’m excited by the prospect of bringing fresh thinking to such an essential field.”

11. Describe a time you successfully led a project or initiative from start to finish.

Proving you can manage projects strategically is key for leadership roles. Discuss a specific project where you leveraged resources, overcame challenges, and achieved stated goals through planning, communication, and delegation.

Example response: “As head of a team rolling out a new automated production line, I first conducted in-depth requirements gathering and created a detailed project plan with contingencies built in. I collaborated cross-functionally to assemble the right mix of skills on our team and had regular status meetings to track progress. When we encountered permitting delays, I kept leadership informed and adjusted timelines accordingly. Overall, we completed the project under budget and ahead of schedule. My organized leadership was key to this success.”

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