Bridgestone and John Deere, a consolidated partnership

Bridgestone has been awarded the John Deere & Company recognition as a Partner-level supplier for 2015, the highest supplier rating in the manufacturer’s Achieving Excellence Program. The staff of Bridgestone Americas, the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, accepted the recognition on behalf of the global Bridgestone Group during ceremonies recently held in Bettendorf, Iowa. Suppliers who participate in Deere & Company’s Achieving Excellence program are evaluated annually in several key performance categories, including quality, cost management, delivery, technical support and wavelength, which is a measure of responsiveness. John Deere Supply Management created the program in 1991 to provide a supplier evaluation and feedback process that promotes continuous improvement. The ties between Bridgestone and John Deere however extend beyond the supply of products and commercial cooperation. Bridgestone recently hosted a John Deere event on the European Proving Ground in Aprilia, south of Rome, for staging a training session for the sales force which coincided with the Annual Meeting of Agricultural Dealerships. The event was also an opportunity to highlight the different types of Bridgestone brand tires for farming and in particular the flagship VT-Tractor line developed to enable farmers and contractors to combine productivity, efficiency and lower soil compaction. Andrea Marconcini, Director of Commercial Products Bridgestone Europe-South Region, declared, “The philosophy behind the range of Bridgestone tires for agriculture is to ensure a perfect balance between agricultural and environmental protection efficiency. Our range provides tires that allow farmers to work faster, more efficiently, resulting in greater savings with greater sustainability.”