as if you weren’t.
How can it be that having our productivity shoot up over 20% with our new tracking process and still we struggle to deliver coaches “on time”?
It’s either we are uncoordinated idiots which means everyone has been fooled for 20 years……some of you probably think that…OK, find someone else crazy enough to think a 40 year old machine will rise again or there is just too much to do and timetables mean much less than we would like them to mean.
If it’s our coordination I will tell you since moving to our new 20,000sf facility from the 7500sf we were in for 18 years…we have been able to obliterate our productivity with our team effort and all that but still…..we struggle. But no matter what the reason, I just cannot be the meat between my manpower and delivery dates. There is no “wiggle room” and no matter how hard we try something always comes up.
Perfect example is right now…a couple purchased a coach several months ago sight unseen from Holland. I had known the coach over the past 20 years through the last 3 owners….it’s an awesome coach.
MacDaddy dash, quad bag, Zip Dees, Alcoas, 2 digital Pinguins, Tundra frig. and a partridge in a pear tree.
This is truly an awesome ride…BUT….. it has been sitting, we did bearings, brakes and replaced anything that wiggled! We made it……..they flew in and tonight I’m escorting them to Moss Park, 17 miles away BUT and here’s the BIG BUTT…we have not test driven the coach at all! This is bad……so you say why haven’t we done that? It’s because there are so many other coaches with creeping delivery dates put to us by you guys…..it’s the $99K question always…When will it be done?
What did DeVinchi tell the pope every time he asked that question………….guys, I have tried over and over to explain this….we are setting ourselves up for failure trying to estimate ANY delivery. We fix one thing, 2 more fall off and need attention. Everything is done then like the coach above the output cable from the power converter had enough corrosion (which you may not see) to cause it not to charge…….the awesome Tundra fridge that has worked for what 10 years is cooling slowly. Here we go again………
Honestly, I’m tired of stressing out over times when I should be worried about the completed project. I have to tell all of you….do not make ANY plans to use your coach until YOU have it back in your hands AND the coach has been properly shaken down. A positive shake down brings up issues as opposed to verifying EVERYTHING works. Expect that and I guarantee you will be disappointed in your 40 year old motorhome and maybe us.
I am not in the business to upset people…so guys I have to say it again with enough gustow for everyone to understand……we cannot guarantee ANY delivery date. DO NOT make plans or you will be stressed out and disappointed. I would rather say this now, you guys all tar me to a railroad tie today than have it happen over and over.
The word on the street is we are slow….look at it this way, we are not spending your money to hurry up and ship it! Isn’t that a better investment for you? We cannot work any faster or harder….I will have a workers rebellion if I push harder and it’s just not worth tearing this team apart.
So guys….we need to look at our work fundamentally different, we must have the time needed to do things well…rushing only causes problems. All deliveries are put on hold…not hold but everyone must help us do our best and deliveries will happen when the coach is ready.
Some of you this year will remember I said this when you brought your coach in but in the next sentence the question was asked….then I say we will try and suddenly we have another set delivery date. Guys…we do not and I cannot tell you when. I have one party that may be wrecked, a coach to show our wares at Amana that may not get there….another coach bought from Holland that is itching to go, Susan’s 455 motor has been out for 4 months, just got it back…and there is more.
We cannot keep this up. I cannot tell you when it’s done, I will tell you we are doing our best and to others hoping to have their coach worked on with us please take this post to heart. I cannot give delivery dates…I cannot….I want to and I’ve gotten ourselves and everyone upset over the years….we are just looking at this work right……..lets all keep it positive…no disappointments any more.
This coach fell across the finish line by fingernails…now we go into Orlando rush hour traffic…..I hate this!
Yeah, I know this may sound negative but when we get a handle on what we’re here for everyone will end up much happier. Sorry guys but there’s 30 something coaches squeezed into our facility and I am standing up to say stop! Over the next several days I’ll be calling each of you…don’t worry but don’t push..there is only so much we can do and we are doing it.
I know I’m probably starting all sorts of conversations……just remember I am making a proactive decision on this which is much better than disappointing you guys…..I’ll be back tomorrow……..see ya then.
