Fair Business Practices

Fair Business Practices

Our customers and suppliers are as diverse as our Bridgestone co-workers and their families.  Our supplier diversity efforts allow us to reach and build relationships with the various diverse groups that buy Bridgestone products and services.  This in turn allows us to generate a positive cash flow and contribute to the bottom line of our company. Diversity is not an enhancement; it is essential to success in today’s market.

During 2009-2010, Bridgestone Americas was able to secure the following contracts with National Minority Supplier Diversity Council (NMSCD) certified minority businesses:

  • Three-year contract extension to a Hispanic-owned company valued at $5 million annually for MRO parts.
  • Raw material direct spend with (2) Asian American companies for a 2009 total of $7.9 million.
  • $900,000 spent with a newly-certified Asian American company. It’s estimated an additional $5 million will be spent in capital equipment over the next 18-24 months.
  • Continued a two-year relationship with a African-American mechanical contractor located at one of our Tennessee manufacturing plants.
  • During the first week of February 2010, Bridgestone signed a new, three-year contract for capital equipment leasing with an African- American owned company with an estimated spend of $3 million per year.
  • In 2010 and for the first time, 12 MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) logistics companies were invited to participate in the Bridgestone annual truck load bid to potentially earn business throughout the continental U.S.

In addition to the above activities, last year was a successful year in which more minority and woman-owned businesses (MWBE’s) were involved in Bridgestone’s RFQ bidding process than ever.

Bridgestone Americas is also a corporate member of the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council (NMSDC), the Tennessee Minority Supplier Development Council, and WBEC (regional Women’s Business Enterprise Council). The company served as the Corporate sponsor for the annual Meharry National Alumni Association Golf Tournament, and as a One Star corporate sponsor of NaVOBA for 2008 and 2010.

Bridgestone Americas will continue to attend and sponsor the TMSDC/NMSDC events to improve existing business relationships and find new opportunities for savvy suppliers of goods and services who can meet or exceed our expectations of quality, price, and delivery.