Bridgestone/Firestone's Aiken plant receives manufacturing award

April 11, 2002

Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding Inc.'s (BFAH) Aiken County, S.C., factory has received the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing.

"The philosophy of the Shingo Prize is that world-class business performance may be achieved through focused improvements in core manufacturing and business processes," say BFAH officials.

The five-year-old Aiken plant has achieved a 53% reduction in waste, a 38% reduction in scrap and a 39% reduction in cost-per-thousand pounds of rubber since 2000, according to BFAH records.

The Shingo Prize was created in 1988 to honor Dr. Shigeo Shingo, who helped establish Toyota Motor Corp.'s current production system and other processes.

Aiken can produce 18,000 passenger and 6,000 light truck tires per day at top capacity, according to Modern Tire Dealer data.

It employs 900 people.