Community Forums

tiffin43qrp · 05-12-2014, 11:27 PM

After several visits to Camp Red Bay and the repair mega plex and noticing the lack of computers etc.
Would Tiffin not benefit and be more efficient to customers and the company if CRB registration and service check in were not done with technology available in 2014?
No computers in the CRB office to register...just paper....
I my be wrong but I did not see any type of scheduling software used as in who is in CRB for what etc.... just paper..
Hopefully they are not keeping up with labor, materials etc. used on repairs by the old school paper trail. Paper gets lost... Data entered into a computer does not..
I see a flow chart for a program that would work for CRB...the service center etc.... Maybe I should call Bob or one of the sons....
!!!LOL
Also, I wonder if Bob has considered putting parts online for sale?
Be nice to order a tail light lens online and not have to call the company?

When technology is available to increase profits....make it work for you!!!

DeWat · 05-13-2014, 12:39 PM

I talked to Don last month about a warranty "issue" with my coach. Don said that he was putting it in the computer for when I did go to CRB.

wa8yxm · 05-13-2014, 03:22 PM

I recall when one outfit converted to computerized mailing lists.

"Where we used to make our mistakes one at a time we can now make thousands in mear seconds".

Computers are useful tools, but I've used them and I've used them and I've corrected them more than once. Contrary to what some people say computers DO make mistakes, it is not always the fault of bad programs or bad input.

I used to have a friend (Jim) who said "Computers do not make mistakes, People make mistakes",, His job was repairing computers.. Now normaly they work/not work, but there are cases where they very simply make mistakes.

Recall the Y2K scare.. Well a lot of folks do not know that there really were Y2K issues.. For example if you lived in Ohio and renewed your driver's license in 1996, this means I'd see

License type: Operators
License Expired 2000

(This was in 1996/7)

Why Because of the 2 digit date (00) was less than the current two digit date (96)

Took them quite a while to fix that (I, of course, overrode the computer's flag when reading it back to my troopers).

They did get it fixed before Y2K, Michigan had better programmers by the way.

Sometimes a HUMAN clerk is your best option.

Hayman · 05-14-2014, 07:50 AM

Ordered new wiper arms & blades on line . Received them 3 days later !

62Morgan · 05-14-2014, 03:49 PM

Cannot believe where the OP gushed-up this misinformation!
He may have seen paperwork; but that doesn't necessarily mean all the traffic that goes on up there is via "sneaker network" [as it was once called]. You will be surprised at the inventory control system, the sub-components scheduling and all things related to the on-time delivery of people and goods to the appropriate workstation just as they are needed on the assembly line. I've seen extensive computer record-keeping at the repair facility, upholstery and carpentry shops (just to mention a few). It's hardly thinkable that a coachowner believes this multi-million dollar business operates on a pen-and-pencil system!

The Camp Red Bay is an Allegro Club operation, I believe, is not Tiffin per se, but under a separate operation; just located on Tiffin property. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

lllkrob · 05-14-2014, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62Morgan

The Camp Red Bay is an Allegro Club operation, I believe, is not Tiffin per se, but under a separate operation; just located on Tiffin property. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Your wrong, Tiffin Motorhomes Inc. owns the campground, buildings and all the people working there are Tiffin employees. The Allegro Club is a Tiffin sanctioned owners association but does not own any portion of anything associated with Tiffin Motorhomes Inc. That is wholly owned by Bob Tiffin, his family, and business partners.

tiffin43qrp · 05-14-2014, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62Morgan

Cannot believe where the OP gushed-up this misinformation!
He may have seen paperwork; but that doesn't necessarily mean all the traffic that goes on up there is via "sneaker network" [as it was once called]. You will be surprised at the inventory control system, the sub-components scheduling and all things related to the on-time delivery of people and goods to the appropriate workstation just as they are needed on the assembly line. I've seen extensive computer record-keeping at the repair facility, upholstery and carpentry shops (just to mention a few). It's hardly thinkable that a coachowner believes this multi-million dollar business operates on a pen-and-pencil system!

The Camp Red Bay is an Allegro Club operation, I believe, is not Tiffin per se, but under a separate operation; just located on Tiffin property. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Just stating my observations at Camp Red Bay/Repair Center and nothing to do with the manufacturing process....
Henry Ford invited the assembly line for cars....Tiffin invented and has perfected the assembly line for rvs.
My thoughts were expressed from experience in automating...implementing technology into businesses/facilities such as Camp Red Bay and the repair center. Ideas from come from several visits to CRB/Repair Center over the last few years....
Modern technology via computers...ipads....smart phones has increased profits...scheduling ..labor costs...customer satisfaction in all type of service related industries

Why did CRP and the repair center stop taking appointments/reservations for service a year or so ago? Unable to plan and schedule who was coming and what work they need done and the time to complete the work?

And yes....All I observed was the"sneaker network"

Perfect example in my opinion of how technology could be used during a customer visit to CRB/Repair Center.....
The great guy that comes buy to visit with you early the next morning after your arrival at CRB........ the info and requests for repairs and service he gathers could be entered into a ipad at the very minute of his visit etc....
Proper software would then handle the request....for a technician to do the work at his or her work station/service area etc.....
Instead of the paper work riding around on the dash of his Ford Escort wagon for 2 to 3 hours... the data is entered into the system ASAP...etc....

Just my thoughts.....

tiffin43qrp · 05-14-2014, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayman

Ordered new wiper arms & blades on line . Received them 3 days later !

Website address you ordered Tiffin parts online? Tiffins website?
Thanks

Hayman · 05-15-2014, 06:01 AM

I used : parts@tiffinmotorhomes.com. It certainly helps if you have part #'s but not absolutely necessary on some items if you leave the last 6 of VIN it helps. In my case sometimes they have e-mailed back for more info or called but other times I have received a confirmation order with tracking # and expected delivery date. I have left a CC on file which speeds up my ordering process.
Hope that helps !

YC1 · 05-15-2014, 06:38 AM

I can tell you as an owner of a high tech telecommunications business that paper can be a very useful tool in the service end. Getting proper information into computers is done by a trained person that doe not have to worry that the tech made a mistrake.

See what I mean.

The paper trail allows the supervisor to quickly check the work ticket and make corrections as needed. For example, did the tech put the part on the ticket you saw him use? Did he put the proper time down. Did you reduce the billing time because you have a trainee?