| What kind of quality program is the Warren County Plant using? "We operate on the principles of total quality management, and that means
we have a very different attitude towards quality control."
And how is that attitude different?
"Conventional quality control methods focus on finished
products. It’s a matter of making sure you don’t
ship anything that
isn’t a quality product.
"Total quality management, on the other hand, focuses on continuously
improving your methods, materials and machines — as
well as your employee skills and work environment —
so that you don’t make
anything that isn’t a quality product."
How does that help a fleet using Bridgestone
tires?
"Making only the highest quality product is also the most efficient,
lowest cost, most productive way to do the job.
"Our team members take great pride in the product they make, and
total quality management has increased our production while
reducing waste and scrap, helping us keep costs under control.
These elements ensure that our customers receive uniform
product time after time."
How exacting are your standards?
"Making a tire is incredibly complicated. Believe
it or not, just making sure each tire has the right dimensions
requires over 120 separate measurements. Most of the things
people buy at the mall aren’t checked that thoroughly."
Has this obsession with quality paid off?
"Absolutely. We are producing, consistently, the best-performing radial truck
tires on the market today.
"Recently, we won the Governor’s Award, the highest award for quality in
Tennessee. The competition was fierce, but so were the standards.
"The selection process is similar to that used by the Malcolm Baldridge National
Quality Award, and involves an in-depth analysis of every aspect of our operation.
"This award demonstrates that our products and our people are
‘world class.’ That means world class tire performance
for our customers." |
