Tracking by Tracker

[Barry Loos]

At the Tracker manufacturing center they need to attach a bar-code sticker to each boat in for repair (eventually when a boat is manufactured) and then scan it as soon as it arrives. That scan should be posted on the Internet and the customer given access to that web site.



When the boat goes from the parking lot to the shop, scan it again and then update the Internet. Let it be scanned in each department the boat is worked on. When the work is complete it would receive a final scan plus a phone call to the customer to pick the boat up or give the customer a shipping notice.



This effort will help Tracker Marine schedule repairs, etc, take some pressure of the customer service group, and most of all the customer could see the status of his boat.



This is not tough technology. Dell computers do it. UPS tracks packages all over the world like that.



To help defer the cost of a warranty bar code system this service could be expanded to serve other manufacturing needs such as production schedules, inventory control, labor hours, etc.



If Tracker Marine wants to be not only the biggest but also the best they have to invest a few bucks to improve service.



I have over simplified the process but heck I'm just the idea man.



Bear

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Bear,



Every and I mean every sucessful business has to be open to suggestions from its customer base. After all, that's who uses their product. Second, they need to listen to the production line people.



TOXIC

 

[Staci Matheis]

I agree, it is a great idea, Bear..... But in reality, there isn't enough volume to justify the cost and the tracking is not nearly as time sensitive as the shipment of a package - it ain't simply, positively gotta be done overnight!



It's likely that they keep track internally of boats by a visual check of the hull's serial number. It isn't really necessary that we, the owners, know exctly where the boat is at every moment; we just need to know realistically when it will be returned.



me!

 

[Roger Milholland]

That is an Excellent idea. I have worked in alot of mfg shops and to be honest, they do not want such technology. They might say it, but they don't. They don't want to customer to know anything, they like to keep it "Black Box" that way they have control over the information that is available.

 

[Barry Loos]

Scott



You have been away from your boat too long. When a guys boat needs repair and it is sent to the factory, it needs to "positively be done overnight"! LOL



Bear

 

[Tom Mann]

Actually Bear is on the right track here. Most of these shops have everthing on computer networks anyway. All that would have to be done is to build an interface between their current data storage and their internet server. Then the customer could access the progress on their boat virtually real time.

Actually, that could be done pretty cheap.



T

 

[Ken Neeley]

Point of fact....every boat and trailer manufactured does have a barcode installed when manufactured...it is used for inventory purposes on the dealership level.

 

[Greg Meyer]

Several customers of mine have utilized barcodes in some very innovative ways. A custom steel fabricator barcodes "everything"...includind invoices. It eliminated a lot of time consuming errors and "mistakes" in production and clerical areas. I am working with a hospital to barcode patients to avoid duplicative clerical steps and to radically reduce "mistakes" in medication and testing. Stepping up to using it in customer service might be a big plus for both the customer and the service department. Tracker can call me for the job!