Correct Craft inventory system?

[Onthewater]

I am struggling for ideas for a term paper on operations management. I would like to be able to do it on CC but if the info isn't available I'll obviously have to pick something else. Does anybody have any info on the inventory/manufacturing side of the CC factory, outsourcing, where parts and supplies come from? Is there anybody I can contact at CC that would be willing to provide this info, (nothing too specific). If nothing anybody have any ideas as to another area of CC or a different company I could choose? PN rocks.:grin:

Kurt

[crowmobe540]

RE: Correct Craft inventory system?

It is going to be tough. Basically Correct Craft is very secretive about what goes on there. I am not 100% sure if they are they same way on the factory side. I did a paper on the business side of things. It was pretty hard to do because of a lot of guess work. I went to Hoovers for that stuff and then did my best from there. So I guess it is possible. You could always look around a Nautique and see if you can't get any names off the parts themselves.

[bkhallpass]

RE: Correct Craft inventory system?

I'm not sure what the parameters of your paper are, but I think there is some interesting analysis to be done between the 3 big manufacturers. CC uses a two tier distribution through a regional distribution house and onto the dealers. As I understand it, MC and Bu ship directly to dealers. I believe spare parts, etc. are handled the same way. This makes a big difference in terms of who stocks the inventories, carries the flooring costs, etc. MC makes it's own trailers, CC leaves it to the dealer to contract regionally. CC maintains one central factory. MC and Bu have two or more.
I think there is probably an interesting paper to be written. If you can't get into the right people, mayble you talk to Mike Seipel at BI. That is in your neck of the woods, correct? Just some thoughts. BKH

[Onthewater]

RE: Correct Craft inventory system?

little over an hour north.

[Rhode]

RE: Correct Craft inventory system?

Not sure if this could have any bearing on OTW's term paper on operations management and interest in focussing on CC's inventory system, but others might find it interesting to learn that BU for the first time last year pushed out the date that it could sell unsold inventory to people located outside their sales region. This really played into my hand last year when selling my old and not-so belove Fat Pig because, even if dealers were sitting on the very popular VLX model, they could not unload them our of their area until a much, much later time in the year than the year before. Again, not sure if this is at all relevant to OTW's project, but I was intrigued at the time by all of this.

Rhode

[skinautique]

RE: Correct Craft inventory system?

CC will ship directly to dealers or go through the warehouses. It is the dealers choice. MC only has one factory.

Onto the original, are you looking for the individual parts suppliers? There are a ton of them, cipa (mirrors), ashland chemical (resins), PCM (engines). Is this what you are looking for?

[bkhallpass]

Re: RE: Correct Craft inventory system?

CC will ship directly to dealers or go through the warehouses. It is the dealers choice. MC only has one factory.

SkiNautique, I'll always take your word for it.
First point, I was misinformed. Second point, my mistake. Malibu has two factories, or at least they did last time I did any reading on Malibu.

Probably too difficult anyway. When dealing with a privately held company, unless you know someone who is willing to sit with you and share the business and it's processes, it is pretty difficult to do the research required to provide college level term paper. BKH

[ccskier16]

malibu = 3 factories. the third is down under (Xavier West Company)

[skinautique]

bk,

No problem. Master Craft has one factory in TN while Malibu has 3: CA, TN and Australia

[Rhode]

Okay, now that we've settled the matter about how many post office boxes there are at MC and BU, can anybody weigh-in with insight about the issue about unloading end-of-season inventory? There's a story here, I'm sure, and one that OTW might be able to play off of here for his term paper.

Rhode

[Onthewater]

ski nautique and rhode's ideas are more of what I am looking for. Supply chain, mirrors, resins, engines, carpet, trailers, blah blah blah. Hand sewn upholstery vs. steering wheel (bought?) - outsourcing. Does CC actually build their towers? Dealer installed towers or factory? Dealer network, end users. Even if I can't do my paper on it this semester, I still would like to learn/know this stuff, most likely for a future paper. Where are the warehouses? selling restrictions, actual sales #s, dollar amount not necessary. Old plant capacity vs. predicted new plant capacity.

[SprintCar39]

If you have a good relationship with your local dealer he can give you most of the answers you are looking for. I would start there then work around that information. But dont be surprised if they get tight lipped though. My 2 cents worth.

[Onthewater]

i don't have any kind of relationship with a dealer. Rockford closed.

[Hollywood]

i don't have any kind of relationship with a dealer. Rockford closed.

...as did the one in Fox Lake. We're 0 for 2.