Nokian Tyres has marked one year without experiencing a lost-time injury at its tire production factory in Dayton – a record that dates back to the first day of trial production at the facility.
Employees celebrated the accomplishment at a socially distanced celebration and signed a banner commemorating the achievement. Factory leaders say they are committed to maintaining a people-centered culture that prioritizes hazard recognition and involvement from all levels of the organization.
“We are proud of our team members’ commitment to safety over the past year, and we’re eager to maintain our record of safety excellence,” said Dayton Factory Health and Safety Manager Darren Bakkestuen. “We plan to continue producing some of the safest tires in the market by employing a safety mindset in all of our operations.”
In addition to helping keep its employees safe, Nokian Tyres has demonstrated a commitment to establishing itself in Southeast Tennessee in its first year of tire production there. The aim: being a good neighbor while building a culture of safety, sustainability and local support that will make the factory an employer of choice in the area, said officials.
The factory recently earned ISO 9001 certification just six months after officially opening its doors, validating its set of quality management practices, said officials. The company awarded its first set of Nokian Tyres Scholarships to a pair of Southeast Tennessee students in June, part of a larger effort to strengthen education and promote sustainability in the region. And the tiremaker has partnered with community leaders to support multiple local events and mobilize its team members for service opportunities.
In the coming months, the company plans to unveil other employee-centered elements at the factory, including a solar-powered administration building that will provide workers with offices, meeting areas and other amenities.
Nokian Tyres currently employs just over 100 members at the Dayton Factory but will ultimately employ as many as 400 workers there. It is the company’s third global production facility, alongside factories in Nokia, Finland and Vsevolozhsk, Russia.
Founded and headquartered in Finland, Nokian Tyres invented the winter and all-weather tires and continues to craft premium products in all major passenger segments, including the all-season tire market. At the Dayton factory, the company aims to fill expanding North American demand.
More information about the facility is available at NokianTires.com/DaytonFactory.