Bridgestone sets timeline for IT breach recovery

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Bridgestone Americas Inc. is making "steady progress" in ramping up production at all manufacturing plants affected by a Feb. 27 information security breach.

The company is targeting "fully operational" status at its facilities by the first half of this week, Bridgestone said in an email to Rubber News March 7.

"We've also accelerated the fulfillment of customer orders and delivery via direct shipments from our distribution centers and warehouses," Bridgestone Americas said. "Customers will continue to see a steady increase in supply over the coming days as we get back to fully operational status."

The tire maker has not termed the early morning breach of its network a "cyberattack," and it continues to investigate the matter after disconnecting computers at certain manufacturing and retreading facilities in North America and Latin America.

"We are continuing to execute our robust business continuity plans and established governance process to do everything we can to minimize impact to our customers and teammates," the company said March 7. "We will continue to work diligently to restart all operations efficiently and safely and to address any issues that may affect our operations, our teammates, and our customers."

The tire manufacturer also said it is resuming direct shipments to customers from its distribution centers and warehouses.

Bridgestone sent workers home early from several manufacturing shifts spanning Feb. 27-28, including those in Des Moines, Iowa; and in La Vergne, Tenn.

According to Bridgestone, workers also were affected at a truck and bus radial factory in Warren County, Tenn.; a passenger and light truck radial tire plant in Aiken County, S.C.; and Canadian media reported Feb. 27 that there was disruption to the night shift at a Bridgestone plant in Joliette, Quebec.

United Steelworkers Local 1155L, which represents Bridgestone employees at the Warren County truck and bus tire plant, posted on its Facebook page Feb. 28 that workers' shifts that same day were canceled at that location, as well.

The level of disruption and what the possible breach may have been targeting remain unclear, as does the total number of affected locations.

The company declined further comment March 7. This story will be updated as information becomes available.

Bridgestone Americas operates more than 50 production facilities and employs around 55,000 in Canada, Central America, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Parent company Bridgestone Corp. is a Japanese multinational and is the second-largest tire maker according to Rubber News' data.