Bridgestone Group Awards
Bridgestone Group Awards 2023

Combining Bridgestone MasterCore, Bridgestone iTrack, and strong customer relationships based on our strong Gemba capabilities , this project realized a mining solution sustainability business model using a proprietary tire durability algorithm to the copper mine in Chile. This service will be used to propose the optimal tire maintenance timing and driving routes for the mine to help lower tire-related costs and vehicle downtime. It also contributes to sustainability through improved resource productivity and longer usage of tires.

Reference: “Bridgestone Supplies New Mining Solution Service to BHP's Spence Mine Using Proprietary Tire Durability Algorithm”

Bridgestone Americas, Inc (BSAM) launched a new EV replacement tire designed for North America’s premium electric vehicles to address market demands for a better-wearing tire. This new tire debuted ENLITEN^*1 technology, which was engineered to help optimize all-season performance, provide longer wear life, and allow for the incorporation of renewable and recycled materials in tires. It features a next-generation polymer technology that enhances tread resistance to wear, aiding in enabling extended tire life. It is the first tire to have 50% certified sustainable content based on the ISCC PLUS^*2 standard. This launch created a platform to expand ENLITEN across other product lines using best practices.

Ref: “Bridgestone Turanza EV Grand Touring Tire for Electric Vehicles Makes World Debut at Electrify Expo”

1. The base technology for product design to realize “ultimate customization”
2. A voluntary sustainability certification for plastics and chemicals, food and feed markets, as well as biofuels outside the EU and the UK.

The recycled content is allocated using the ISCC mass balance approach. Find out more: www.iscc-system.org

In response to needs at disaster sites, BSJP and the National Research Institute of Fire and Disaster, Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency, have jointly researched and developed a tire for ambulances and command vehicles that can continue to run even if one of the tires becomes flat. Demonstration tests of Genbutsu-Genba were conducted while driving a vehicle to confirm the tire could still drive a certain distance even with bad road conditions such as snowy and icy surfaces. The application of our original run-flat technology^*1 to heavy-load vehicles has not only led to the demonstration of our technological capabilities, but has also contributed to the improvement of disaster relief efforts through public-private partnerships.

*1 Tires on which you can continue driving after a puncture so you can take time get to an auto shop or find a safe, level area to change your tire

To tackle Australia’s long-lasting problem of a skilled worker shortage, Bridgestone Australia Ltd. (BSAL) developed an innovative apprenticeship program. The program offers the apprentices on-site work experience with remuneration and education of advanced systems and processes for future mobility. The program also allows senior technicians to spread their passion, excitement, and knowledge for the automotive sector to the next generation. Their efforts have paid off with significantly better results in BSAL retention rate than the industry average, while solving the skilled worker shortage by creating their own.

Ref: “Bridgestone Australia Apprenticeship Program”

Motorsports, particularly the NTT INDYCAR SERIES^*1 and INDY NXT^*2 series, places incredible demands on tires and requires absolute premium performance. To meet this requirement, the BSAM race tire engineering team partnered with cross-functional teams and produced alternate street course race tires for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES consisting of natural rubber derived from Guayule^*3, as well as Indy 500 race tires that include ISCC PLUS certified Recycled Butadiene^*4. These initiatives helped raise awareness of Bridgestone’s ability to incorporate recyclable, renewable and alternatively-sourced materials into its highest-performing products, while showcasing our sustainable solutions vision and the Bridgestone E8 Commitment to mass audiences.

Ref: “Firestone Dubs the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Season the ‘Most Sustainable Season of Motorsports Ever’”

1. The highest class of regional open-wheel racing in North America
2. A North American developmental open-wheel racing series sanctioned by INDYCAR
3. An evergreen desert shrub which is being explored as a new source of natural rubber
4. The recycled content is allocated using the ISCC mass balance approach. Find out more: www.iscc-system.org

The PSR^*1-HRD^*2 tire assembling machine, which had been developed to create our strength in assuring tire uniformity, is one of our excellent technology assets. On the other hand, its operability and performance often depended on the skill of the operators, called “Takumi Skill”. The project team worked to improve the fundamental issues by utilizing the latest sensing technology and control module to eliminate human-dependent processes. The project finally achieved “Dan-Totsu” uniformity level in HRD products, leading to stable supply of tires with ENLITEN technology that realizes ultimate customization and cost optimization.

1. Passenger radial tire
2. High Rim Diameter

The current tire inspection system, for all tires in all Bridgestone plants, involves a visual inspection by an operator. Visual inspection can entail several difficulties such as subjectivity of the control, ergonomic issues, data storage for analysis and application of preventive actions. The introduction of the automatic system enhanced the overall process, improving all these aspects through repetitive and objective controls with higher precision and repeatability than human checks. Most importantly, the new system reduced quality claims and improved satisfaction among end users of our tires. This breakthrough project will potentially lead to a true change of the conventional system for the entire Group. This initiative was also recognized as an excellent example of TQM^*1 activities, which are part of Bridgestone's DNA.

*1 Total Quality Management. This initiative also received the Grand Prize at Bridgestone Group Global TQM Conference in 2023.

Limited use of digital tools across Firestone Natural Rubber (FSNR) operations in Liberia has posed various challenges such as human errors, speed of information, and security risks. The team developed mobile and web-based applications that would improve those capabilities, including the digitalization of 1 million paper forms. Additionally, traceability to an individual smallholder farmer and FSNR’s 6,000 teammates has been improved and is expected to further contribute to customer confidence and trust. This new digitalized tool promotes data integrity and enables visibility of the farm profile, including other environmental and social parameters for both owned farms as well as smallholder operations across our value chain from "Trees to Tires".

Ref: Procurement