DTR Tennessee, the auto parts manufacturer that has a plant in Midway, recently has rehired 230 employees who took voluntary layoffs last January.

Cal Doty, DTR's vice president for human resources, said workers have returned to help the plant meet its rising production goals.

Doty said that, in addition to the employees that DTR has rehired, the plant is hiring "12 to 15" temporary workers who have already been contacted.

DTR is a Japanese-owned company that makes anti-vibration equipment and hoses for many brands of vehicles.

It is heavily affected by orders from the major auto manufacturers.

DTR is Greene County's largest manufacturer. Doty said the company's Greeneville plant now has 850 personnel.

Meanwhile, Bob Leonard, president of LMR Plastics, said this week that 15 of 22 workers there who were laid off in June recently returned to work.

LMR currently has 110 personnel.

Leonard said that, in terms of rehiring, the company "is not seeing true bright spots," but at least the situation "is not getting worse."