Cooper ´flex´ plant plan could require 400-500 job cuts

Texarkana, Arkansas -- Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.´s plan to reconfigure its Arkansas tyre plant into a more flexible production site could lead to the loss of 400 to 500 jobs at the 1,945-employee factory, the company said.

Cooper´s plan for its facility in Texarkana calls for output to be cut 30 percent next year and an additional 15 percent in 2008 from its current level of 36,000 units a day.

The plant will return to a five-day per week/three crews per day schedule starting in the second quarter of next year, Cooper said.

The tyre maker said it would reduce employment at the 42-year-old plant by attrition and layoffs.

Cooper claims its program is designed to reduce the cost per tyre for all of its four plants - in Ohio, Georgia and Mississippi as well as Arkansas - combined, which should help boost its manufacturing profitability.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)