Bridgestone Costa Rica consistently strives to ensure a more efficient operation; therefore, in 2017, it focused on improving several of its logistics processes. This included obtaining its certificate as an Authorized Economic Operator (PROFAC) that certifies import and export companies as reliable and safe trade operators. Bridgestone secured this certification by meeting requirements such as proper logistics, administrative and accounting management, safety and protection measures, satisfactory administrative, customs, tax, and judicial compliance records, and providing proof of its financial solvency.

It also reduced its nationalization of finished product shipments (imported tires) from 6.6 days to 2.9 days, thus ensuring more rapid delivery of the product to the sales department and contributing to the fulfillment of its goals and savings in the customs processes.

In Limon, the bonded warehouse was changed to one that meets the Bridgestone Costa Rica requirements for the proper storage of its products. This change improved the quality of storage and represented a 6% savings compared to 2016. The company also negotiated with local transportation companies to guarantee streamlined efficiencies in transport from port to plant, thus generating annual savings.

With respect to innovation in the operation, in 2017 the company implemented B-Connection, an automated system to take customer orders. Half (50%) of all Costa Rican customers were trained in the program, and 100% of them are expected to use this system to place their orders by 2018.