Etude de cas : Firestone

Bridgestone/firestone, Inc. is an international manufacturer with 38 production facilities throughout the world. The company is based in Nashville, Tennessee and was formed in 1990 when Bridgestone USA merged with the firestone Tire & Rubber Company. Tires are the largest part of Bridgestone/firestone's business, accounting for approximately 75 percent of annual revenues. Bridgestone/firestone now has nearly 45,000 employees who produce and sell 50 million tires a year. The company develops, manufactures, and markets tires for almost every kind of vehicle, 8000 different types and sizes in all, including a 13-foot-tall giant radial for earthmoving equipment to a cart tire that is only 10 inches tall. In addition to tires, Bridgestone/firestone also produces a variety of other products such as air springs, building materials, synthetic and natural rubber, and industrial fibers and textiles. Bridgestone/firestone sells tires for passenger, light truck, truck, bus, off-the-road, agricultural, motorcycles and cart applications through more than 12,000 outlets, including independent dealers, discount retailers, warehouse clubs and company-owned stores. The company also operates firestone Tire & Service Centers, Mark Morris, Expert Tire and Tire Station retail outlets for automotive tires and service. They also service the commercial trucking industry with their Truck Tire Centers.