The Boating Forum - brunswick quality

I work at the Merritt Island plant and I can simply say that the environment being created at the plant is not a simple management problem but a need for solid restructure of the plant itself. Quality was once the primary concern at this plant and for a long time the Merritt Island plant produced the best yachts in the Sea Ray fleet. Now it seems that so many supervisors and managers are so concerned about their bonuses which are based on safety, turnover and sheer production that quality has taken a severe backseat, okay thats an understatement, apparantly quality is riding in the trunk. With no appropriate training program and no company loyalty to the employees, you can't expect people to withstand the hectic and unrealistic goals set by our management team. The new 36 dual bridge model (which is a disaster,don't buy one) is a great example of the mismanagement and greed of the Merritt Island plant. The employees have been required to work six 12 hour days a week since it's inception, in order to maintain a schedule that is impossible to achieve. Even the most experienced boat builders working on that model will tell you that this boat cannot be built in the amount of time that our illustrious leader (Jim Barclay) has given them. The Merritt Island plant is not equipped to build a dual bridge boat efficiently, yet Mr. Barclay, in the pursuit of his greed, underbid other plants that not only have the set-up to build these boats but are already producing dual bridge boats. Even tried and true boats like the 44da, which has been a great seller and a quality boat in the past, is being mutilated by undertrained, underpaid, and consequently unhappy employees who really have no clue what they are doing, nor do they care to learn. I truly believe that the Brunswick corporation is going to ruin the Sea Ray name by allowing such travesties to continue. If I were able to buy one of these boats (but I won't because I work at Sea Ray/Merritt Island) I would not buy a Sea Ray, the quality and durability has gone downhill and is picking up steam. In summary without some kind of restructure within the individual plants I believe that the Sea Ray name is not long on this Earth. The brunswick corporation will only pump money into our production team for so long before pulling the plug and selling off Sea Ray yachts just like they did with Robalo.

What exactly do you do there?

In your opinion how long has this been going on?

Which models are built at that plant?

Do you see many boats come back for warranty? If so, what kind of problems? Delamination etc?

It might be a good thing fo Sea Ray to be sold off so it could return to its glory days of thick hulled good boats.

For the life of me I can not understand why you would post this crap about the very company that pays your salary. If you have a problem with your company try fixing it from within....or quit. I am sure this public venting and negative forecast will help your fellow employees keep their jobs. But who really cares about those people?...not management .............and obviously not you. Unbelievable......

Tireless - 8/20/2006 11:15 AM

For the life of me I can not understand why you would post this crap about the very company that pays your salary. If you have a problem with your company try fixing it from within....or quit. I am sure this public venting and negative forecast will help your fellow employees keep their jobs. But who really cares about those people?...not management .............and obviously not you. Unbelievable......


What he said too.

Sad but typical slide in a U.S. production facility. The managers and supervisors are really driven by upper immediates and enticed with financial rewards for completion of task in the most timely/cost effective manner. This will usually create short cuts in QA/Inspection processes along with other aspects that it takes to produce a well constructed product.

A problem for the Brunswick/Genmar type boat production facilities is that they operate and are funded by a coporation that has publicly traded stock shares. If for what ever reason they don't show positive revenues and or become a burden to coporate growth they usually do end up for sale, etc..

What exactly is going on in the plant, short of nobody wants to work there?

Is the lamination shoddy?

The bolts not put on correctly?

Are the molds not being cleaned?

Are substandard parts being ordered, or installed incorrectly?

Sounds like people, (including you by the way) don't want to work at that plant.
Or maybe they just don't want to work at all, and get a silver spoon handed to them.
Maybe it would be better if we forwarded Sea Ray this thread so they could weed out the non-compliants and actually get hard workers in the plant making a quality product.

Perhaps you could set the example by using the open door policy at your work place and telling your boss that the quality is slipping and you care about your product, with SPECIFIC examples of the infractions, so they could deal with the situation. Quit being a child and go talk to your supervisor. If they don't listen, walk into the manager's office after work and vent, but don't do it here. The supervisors and management are very likely to a) fix the situation, and b) remember your name when it comes time for promotions.

Bitch*ng on a public forum about Brunswick does nothing but devalue the Brunswick brand, especially when you have listed no types of substandard behavior, other than no one wants to work the shifts that are mandatory for your plant. Perhaps everyone there is as lazy as you are.

Intersting how some posting here immedialty want to beleive the orginal poster and others ask for more specifics...the internet at it's best....

I'm with tireless...although the author may be correct , I'd have him blown out tomorrow if I could find out who it was.....

What Tireless said. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:


And as an added note, why did you point out in the last "Brunswick Quality..." thread that the posters information was from 2001 and now you post the same stuff here? I would figure you'd have jumped on it there. Or was it someone already caught on to the date of the information (over 5 years old) and you figure you'd start your own where there's no reference to the data?

Last Brunswick Quality Thread (http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=114605)

:mad: :mad: :trout: :trout: :bashhh: :bashhh: :bashhh: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

If you really hate your employer that much should quit.

Its hurting you more than them.

Just remember whose signature is on your check! If you don't like it there and can't work from within to make things better, go elsewhere.

WOW.....Beat hell out of the guy.
When I read his post I though he was a caring
employee who is frustrated by Managments
recent decisions. I have worked in enviroments
similiar to his.
If the info he states is accurate it looks like the plant
is gearing to make a MOVE. 12 hr 6 day work week
is not justified to meet any schedule, unless it is
to get a head of production so a major change
can take place.

Of course I just bought a Mako 28, powered with
Yamahahas and put Merc cowls on so I can
brag about my Rig :)

The Merritt Island Plant Manager will be promoted to CEO of the refocused effort on Brunswick's part to turn a more consistent profit . He will head up their new Bowling Pin and Bowling Apparel Division.

Their focus will be to build state of the art bowling pins for the increasingly building Bowling ally trend , and bowling shirts for the wedding circuit.

The Merrit Island Plant will be closed and refitted to produce robot made pins and shirts,
very few disgruntled employees will be needed. :grin: :Q :sleeping: :bashhh:

This information is current and up to date, i heard it from the drift boat captain here locally. :trout:

Isn't Brunswick the corporation that took over Harley Davidson back in the Seventies, and almost ran it into the ground? It wasn't until Brunswick drove Harley reputation into bureaucratic mediocrity that Harley split off and became a motorcycle manufacturer again, rather than a branch of a sports and recreation conglomerate. I think there's something to be said about a boat company making boats, rather than an international conglomerate that makes boats as a sideline.

hosocat - 8/20/2006 8:32 PM

Isn't Brunswick the corporation that took over Harley Davidson back in the Seventies, and almost ran it into the ground? It wasn't until Brunswick drove Harley reputation into bureaucratic mediocrity that Harley split off and became a motorcycle manufacturer again, rather than a branch of a sports and recreation conglomerate. I think there's something to be said about a boat company making boats, rather than an international conglomerate that makes boats as a sideline.

you would do well to do a google search before you try and bash brunswick....that was AMF that owned HD for a while....

If I was thinking of buying a Sea Ray I would be grateful for the insider info. As for Loyalty. Loyalty is a two way street. I have loyalty to those entities that I feel earn it. An employeer pays for my labor, not my mind. In this day and age loyalty in the workplace is a myth.

Jesse Garman

JGarman - 8/20/2006 8:54 PM

If I was thinking of buying a Sea Ray I would be grateful for the insider info. As for Loyalty. Loyalty is a two way street. I have loyalty to those entities that I feel earn it. An employeer pays for my labor, not my mind. In this day and age loyalty in the workplace is a myth.

Jesse Garman

Insider info????..someone who comes on a board and gives no identiy and just gives innuendo????...unitl this "closet whistleblower" shows us who and what he does - it's nothing more than internet crap...what if this is a vendetta against SR as he was sent home for being drunk? Who knows?????

reminds me of the time Elaine on Seinfeld brought "Vincent" a bottle of vodka and fireworks......

Psssst. Glen. Look at most of the people "contributing" to these Brunswick bash fests. They are mostly relatively new people with low post counts. I mean how many of these threads have we had in the last few weeks. My guess is it's some 10 year olds stretching their new found inet browsing. :) Or just one person with the mentality of a 10 year old. :)

mole2 - 8/20/2006 9:08 PM

Psssst. Glen. Look at most of the people "contributing" to these Brunswick bash fests. They are mostly relatively new people with low post counts. I mean how many of these threads have we had in the last few weeks. My guess is it's some 10 year olds stretching their new found inet browsing. :) Or just one person with the mentality of a 10 year old. :)


I am really not a person who beleives in conspiricies but... I'm beginning to beleve there is a new movement afoot by someone to pay day traders to mix this crap up...


Oh god I need a boat trip......

All I want to know is can I get a lighter ball with bigger holes? ;?

Glen E - 8/20/2006 7:37 PM

hosocat - 8/20/2006 8:32 PM

Isn't Brunswick the corporation that took over Harley Davidson back in the Seventies, and almost ran it into the ground? It wasn't until Brunswick drove Harley reputation into bureaucratic mediocrity that Harley split off and became a motorcycle manufacturer again, rather than a branch of a sports and recreation conglomerate. I think there's something to be said about a boat company making boats, rather than an international conglomerate that makes boats as a sideline.

you would do well to do a google search before you try and bash brunswick....that was AMF that owned HD for a while....

Yep, it was indeed AMF. If you look at the history of HD, AMF probably saved the company. But, that isn't important right now.

HOTSPOT - 8/20/2006 9:35 PM

All I want to know is can I get a lighter ball with bigger holes? ;?

I actually like the 3 tone shoes I used to wear on the lanes....

I was wondering if all of Brunswicks divisions are as dysfunctional as Sea Ray. They have their hands in a lot of cookie jars and if this one is this bad then it makes one wonder if the rest of them are as screwy as this one. What about their billiards, bowling fitness divisions, etc. People will buy this stock no matter what and people will sell it. I am curious as to what the bonuses are for all the fat cats since the SEC says they have to show everything that they get(they do right). Granpappy always said the further up the ladder you go the less you have to do and the more money you make. Sounds like this is a fine example of that statement. Worker bees will always have to try and make ends meet on the pawltry left overs no matter what the company is. This is just one in the great big corporate world.

seaurchin - 8/20/2006 11:13 PM




I was wondering if all of Brunswicks divisions are as dysfunctional as Sea Ray. They have their hands in a lot of cookie jars and if this one is this bad then it makes one wonder if the rest of them are as screwy as this one. What about their billiards, bowling fitness divisions, etc. People will buy this stock no matter what and people will sell it. I am curious as to what the bonuses are for all the fat cats since the SEC says they have to show everything that they get(they do right). Granpappy always said the further up the ladder you go the less you have to do and the more money you make. Sounds like this is a fine example of that statement. Worker bees will always have to try and make ends meet on the pawltry left overs no matter what the company is. This is just one in the great big corporate world.


I think every one of them stinks and it's just a matter of time before the whole thing comes down like Enron.....now put the bong down, kiss your mom goddnight and get some rest...plenty more Brunswick bashing time tomorrow after school.....good night.....

seaurchin - 8/20/2006 10:13 PM


Granpappy always said the further up the ladder you go the less you have to do and the more money you make.

Perhaps he also mentioned that those people high on the ladder might have earned their positions, and are also challenged with stressful decisions on a daily basis. The wrong decisions at an upper level could potentially end their career with that particular organization.

;)

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :banghead:

Brunswicks most successful division is it's Lifefitness group which is performing very well. The exercise machines they produce have a very good reputation and sell well!

seaurchin - 8/20/2006 10:13 PM

Worker bees will always have to try and make ends meet on the pawltry left overs no matter what the company is. This is just one in the great big corporate world.




:rofl: Thanks for providing a small but meaningful look at your shallow intentions.......sleep well Stalin Jr.

ali'i kai - 8/20/2006 3:24 AM

Sad but typical slide in a U.S. production facility. The managers and supervisors are really driven by upper immediates and enticed with financial rewards for completion of task in the most timely/cost effective manner. ...

It started with Toyota, in Japan, and migrated to the US and is spreading like cancer thru all manf’ing in the US…actually spreading globally. But keep in mind that an employee in Japan is half a world away from an employee in the US, not even close to being similar.

seaurchin - 8/20/2006 11:13 AM

... Worker bees will always have to try and make ends meet on the pawltry left overs no matter what the company is. This is just one in the great big corporate world.


You are correct; corps are changing and they are changing rapidly and synonymously as if chorographed. It is not possible to discuss this further without getting into politics. I’ll say this and then I’m going to bail out of this thread; the division between the “haves” and the “have nots” was never as narrow as it was in the 80’s, and never as great (and still growing) as in the 90’s.

JG, Yes, but I think Brunswick was part of AMF. And it's true AMF probably saved Harley from bankruptcy. But in the long run, when economic conditions improved, the passion of those who truly loved motorcycles overcame the bureaucrats who just looked at the Harley name as a resource to be exploited. Most Harley riders view the AMF (Brunswick) era of Harleys as being unexciting, dull, and frankly an embarassment to those who love bikes. I'm just asking if there isn't a similar dynamic going on here with Brunswick and SeaRay?

hosocat - 8/21/2006 12:19 AM

JG, Yes, but I think Brunswick was part of AMF. And it's true AMF probably saved Harley from bankruptcy. But in the long run, when economic conditions improved, the passion of those who truly loved motorcycles overcame the bureaucrats who just looked at the Harley name as a resource to be exploited. Most Harley riders view the AMF (Brunswick) era of Harleys as being unexciting, dull, and frankly an embarassment to those who love bikes. I'm just asking if there isn't a similar dynamic going on here with Brunswick and SeaRay?


Trying to make a connection between AMF of the 1970's and Sea-Ray of today is absurd BS.

Hatteras and Slickcraft were also owned by AMF at one time. They have done just fine. Do you see a connection there too?

Seacat FL - 8/20/2006 2:32 PM

Hatteras and Slickcraft were also owned by AMF at one time. They have done just fine. Do you see a connection there too?

Yes. ... I mean, no. Wait, what was the question?!?

geez, excuse me for asking. Just trying to get a conversation going. Why don't we talk about something non-controversial, like abortion?

BEEP>>>BEEEP>>>>BEEEP...........NEW UPDATE >>>>>>> Brunswick sells off its SeaRay Division to the more profitable,,,,, Chrysler Marine Division... With the promise of selling its new Cruiser line of Boats called Edsel......Most disgruntled Merrit Island employees , will be retrained to work at the new American Motors Plant in Belle Glade, making the upscale Gremlin model.
Brunswick found that competition from Studebaker was slowing their ability to turn a profit at Merrit Island, now relegated to Bowling Pins and Bowling apparel. :grin:

Brunswick has placed many of their more vocal employees with the Dept. of Homeland Security's TSA division checking bottled water and baby formula.

Many former employees have commented on how their training at Brunswick has given them the edge at TSA. ;? :sleeping:

The Intraweb always brings the funny

I have owned Sea Ray boats for years. I asked the service guys at the marina (PW Marina in Virginia - almost all Sea Ray) if they have seen any service problems, particularly with the yachts. These are guys I know and trust. They said no - they see no quality problems and no changes.

Rick

I know a couple of people that work at that plant, and they say the same thing. Working them to death, yet making them leave early on Friday so they dont have to pay them O.T.

HMMMM>>>>working them to death ??????,,,no overtime??????,,, sounds like a 40 hour week ? ;?

Hey, the bigger the holes, the lighter the ball.

I think the entire point has been missed by all of you guys......




































Since when, in the past 20 years, has Sea Ray been a good boat :Q :Q :Q :Q :Q :Q :Q :Q :Q :Q :Q :Q




Bring it chumps :Q :thumbsup: ;cool;

Big Al
see ray?

HOTSPOT,

lighter biscuits = bigger holes

butt, hay, I failed Calculcus 5 ;?

Big Al
ex o-ring designer