The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company reports it has no concerns about raw material supplies for its tire production as its synthetic rubber plants returned to operation quickly due to the effectiveness of the company's business continuity efforts. The plants in Beaumont and Houston, Texas, had been closed in advance of Hurricane Ike making landfall on Sept. 13. The company said the short production interruption and minimal business impact resulted from its comprehensive business continuity process, which was enacted in advance of the hurricane's landfall. In addition, contingencies were put in place to obtain critical raw materials for the company's tire manufacturing facilities, according to the company. Goodyear's business continuity process is an integrated strategy for maintaining the company's ability to operate under adverse conditions. It includes initiatives to avoid operational disruptions, return to normal following incidents and emergencies, maximize the safety of associates and ensure the long-term viability of the business. "We're extremely pleased by the way our business continuity process works, and how we were able to quickly get our operations running after the hurricane," says Robert J. Keegan, chairman and chief executive officer. "We see the management of this process as a real competitive advantage in these types of circumstances." As part of the business continuity efforts, the company pulled forward a limited amount of previously announced reductions in North American tire production to ease the pressure on its raw material supply chain, but continued to produce tires that were in demand by consumers. No tire plants were damaged by the hurricane. For more information, visit www.goodyear.com/corporate. | 
