Bridgestone Americas Inc. (BSAM) will begin the process of moving members of Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions' (BBTS) senior management team from Muscatine, Iowa, to the Nashville, Tenn., area.
"This decision is part of an overall effort to restructure the way BSAM does business across its North American operations," say Bridgestone officials.
"The goals are to become a more profitable and customer-focused business; to lower costs by eliminating duplication and inefficiencies; and to harness talent and expertise in a new way that best serves the business.
"The company is installing new management operating systems to improve efficiencies and business processes, and enhancing the ability to measure business and individual performance."
Certain BBTS functions will remain in Muscatine. They include equipment manufacturing, emergency road service, human resources, retread manufacturing management, manufacturing finance, information technology developers and support, retread engineering, retread technical services, and retread research and development.
The following BBTS functions will transfer to Nashville: the company's headquarters, purchasing, marketing, finance, accounts payable, credit, business strategy and solutions, legal, customer service, safety and members of the Company-Owned Operations' senior management team. Thirty-two employees will relocate to Nashville as a result of this decision.
"Further, 55 BBTS teammates who will not be relocating to Nashville have been asked to assist with the transition, which is expected to conclude no later than June 30, 2011. Eighteen positions within BBTS were eliminated, effective today."
