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Goodyear to Expand Akron Engineering Group

15 December 1997

Goodyear to Expand Akron Engineering Group

    AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 15 -- In a continuing expansion of its
technological capabilities here, Goodyear announced today that it plans to
hire 35 more associates -- in addition to the 80 jobs announced earlier this
year -- bringing a total of 115 new engineers and scientists to Akron.
    In May, Goodyear began hiring 125 new engineers and scientists for its
tire technology group.  Eighty of these associates will be based at the Akron
Technical Center, 45 at its technical center in Luxembourg.  Six months into
the plan, approximately half of the new associates have been hired.
    "The velocity at which we're developing new products and more-efficient
manufacturing processes make it necessary to increase our engineering
capabilities and further strengthen our headquarters engineering staff," said
K.B. Kleckner, Goodyear's vice president of engineering.
    "In addition, our engineering group is working with manufacturing
operations brought into the company through joint ventures and acquisitions.
We share technology and best practices to improve operations," he said.
    "Our objective to be the low-cost producer of the three global players in
our industry requires that our manufacturing operations be the most
productive," he added.
    Kleckner said a global recruitment effort to fill the 35 new engineering
positions has already begun.  The company is seeking persons with bachelor's,
master's and doctorate degrees in electrical or mechanical engineering.
    "We intend to bring the best available people to Akron to join our
engineering team," he said.  "This will include recent college graduates as
well as persons with experience with other organizations."
    Goodyear employs nearly 100,000 people around the world and is one of
Northeastern Ohio's largest employers with more than 5,000 local associates.

SOURCE  Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company