MONTREAL — Bridgestone/Firestone Canada Inc. today announced a streamlining of its distribution operations that will result in significant cost savings while maintaining current high service levels to dealers, distributors and retail customers.
Under the arrangement, the warehouse operations in Lachine, Québec will close on March 31, 2002. The Quebec region will be served by a new facility in the Greater Toronto Area. The company has been reviewing overall operations since November 2000, focussing on improving efficiencies while maintaining customer service. The company's head office and Ontario warehouse & distribution centre are based in Mississauga, Ontario. Bridgestone/Firestone Canada distribution facilities in Moncton, N.B., Winnipeg, Man. and Langley, B.C. will not be affected.
"Streamlining our distribution operations for the Ontario and Quebec markets into the Toronto region makes sense for our company," said Bridgestone/Firestone Canada spokesperson, Jerry Priddle. "It allows us to operate more efficiently, gain an immediate cost savings and is consistent with other recent moves to centralize certain functions such as our customer service area into one national department."
Fourteen full-time employees at the Lachine warehouse will be offered either relocation or severance packages before the move takes place. "For those employees not continuing with us, we will help them to make a successful transition over the next eight months until the facility closes," said Priddle. Individual severance packages will include assistance in finding new employment in the area.