Making Bridgestone Earthmover Tyres a world leading company is Managing Director Junya Ono's number one ambition.
"My ambition is to make Bridgestone Earthmover Tyres a world leading company: not just in earthmover tyre supply
and in our tyre related support business but in the way we provide these products and services.
We want to win the trust of our clients" said Junya.
Junya has been in the managing director's chair since October 2007,
but has worked for Bridgestone Corporation for 19 years. His first job with Bridgestone was in production enhancement
and overseas distribution at the Off the Road Tyre (OTR) division in Tokyo, Japan.
Prior to coming to live and work in Australia, Junya was Bridgestone Corporation's OTR area manager for North and South America.
According to Junya, tyre supply is the number one challenge facing the company.
"Obviously, in the short term, tyre supply is the key issue with which we must deal" he said.
"How we satisfy our clients under the current supply conditions is critical to our ongoing success."
"Our Tyre Rescue Program provides critical support in the areas of tyre selection and maintenance,
ongoing tyre development and road maintenance."
"Tyre repairs and complete service contracts are other areas where we assist our clients to overcome tyre supply constraints.
All of our professional services are offered to assist and support our clients in their use of our products."
On an industry level, Junya believes there are two main issues – cost increases and recycling.
Junya said that Bridgestone is currently experiencing extreme cost pressures. Depreciation on major factory investments,
labour costs, transport and fuel costs have all increased dramatically. Raw material costs for natural rubber,
steel cord and oil related products, such as synthetic rubber and carbon black, are also increasing significantly.
"Costs for these materials have escalated quite dramatically as a result of current economic conditions,
including the growth in China and other developing economies and greater cash flow into the commodity market.
"Unfortunately these costs will have to be passed on to consumers," said Junya.
"Bridgestone will not take advantage of the current market circumstances,
but we do need to recover our growing outlays with fair and justified price increases being passed on to our client base.
"With recycling, this is an issue which requires greater attention within the industry and in the community as a whole,"
said Junya. "The requirement, particularly from the mining industry, is to build more durable, longer-lasting tyres.
This results in tyres that are stronger and more resistant to damage, but also more difficult to break down for recycling.
"We must consider the sustainability of our environment for future generations;
with the focus on re-use and recycling of our products. The development of a practical business model to facilitate these processes in the near future will be a key driver
in achieving these goals."
Junya is passionate about Bridgestone, and asks that employees remember the company's
corporate philosophy – "trust and pride". "Our business is to sell tyres and related products and services;
but in doing this, we need to earn the trust of our clients and of our colleagues," he said.
"I would also want all of our staff to be proud of their jobs, of our company and of our culture.
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Junya Ono, Managing Director.
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