WILSON, N.C. (Nov. 9, 2012) — The Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Wilson County, N.C., manufacturing facility has become the first tire plant to earn ISO 50001 certification.
Bridgestone said the Wilson facility also is the first plant, regardless of segment, to reach Superior Energy Performance (SEP) Mature Pathway certification.
The ISO 50001:2011 certification is an international standard specifying requirements for industrial energy management systems that, according to Bridgestone, calls for actions such as establishing an energy baseline, demonstrating energy reductions, creating energy goals and action plans and managing significant energy-consuming equipment.
U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing sponsors the SEP, the Nashville, Tenn.-based tire maker said. The SEP Mature Energy Pathway encourages companies to implement more than 50 “best energy practices” and requires a 15-percent reduction in energy use over the previous 10 years to receive recognition. Bridgestone claimed the Wilson plant has made verifiable energy savings of 16.8 percent between the years of 2001 and 2011,
“Our company has long been focused on reducing the use of natural resources and instituting sustainable manufacturing practices, so while earning this certification is a great honor, I’m happy to say it’s also business as usual for our plant,” said Gary Williamson, Wilson plant manager.
“Energy savings isn’t just good for our environment, it’s also good for our bottom line, so this is truly a win-win situation.”
Bridgestone reported it required all manufacturing facilities to obtain ISO 14001 certification—a framework for environmental management implementation—by the year 2000 or within two years of ownership of any new facility. The company currently has 52 Bridgestone manufacturing facilities, including the Wilson factory, that are ISO 14001 certified.
Source: Tire Business
