Riordian

Riordian

  • Submitted By: fignewton
  • Date Submitted: 02/28/2009 12:04 PM
  • Category: Business
  • Words: 401
  • Page: 2
  • Views: 342

Running Head:

University of Phoenix

Firestone Tire to become
Bridgestone Firestone, Inc.
Harvey S. Firestone, (1868-1938), started on a trek to create what in his minds eye, would alter the way of life in 1900, and he did so one marketing idea at a time. A few years after he began manufacturing carriage tires with an eleven-member crew in Ohio, Henry Ford put Firestone Tire & Rubber Company on the map, and by 1911 Firestone Tire Company began a legendary path in car racing by entering and winning the first Indianapolis 500. Firestone also joined America’s “Good Roads” movement, supporting the Lincoln Highway Association in the creation of the first coast-to-coast highway, and advocated the creation of an interstate highway system as early as 1916. By the 1920s, Firestone had become a world leader in tires and the company included its own retail store chain.
The Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. (renamed Bridgestone Corporation) was founded in 1931 in Kurume, Japan, by Shojiro Ishibashi (1885-1976), a manufacturer of rubber-soled footwear. Ishibashi, who admired Firestone, reversed the English translation of his own surname, which means “stone bridge,” to give his new venture a brand name with an international sound.
Firestone continued to grow and diversify into new markets. In 1961, Firestone acquired Dayton Tire, another tire industry pioneer. Firestone developed advances in tire and rubber technology, including the first non-skid tread, and the first United States-produced radial tire.
Bridgestone purchased Firestone in 1988 for $2.6 billion. The Japan based company acquired America’s company in the purchase, and the acquisition made history with two authentic industry giants, now viewed today as a pioneer of technology, environmental responsibility, and with the highest ethical standards in manufacturing citizenship.
Through the mission and vision they sought to benchmark their progress and an industry best...

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