Summary of ?Company Session? on Sunday at Rally

September 18, 2005, 04:22:12 pm

Jay Howard and numerous VPs and top officers were present for this talk and question & answer session. Below is a summary:

CC is buying 75 acres of agricultural land to the east of their plant and is proceeding with rezoning. New facilities will be built on it to replace some of the existing factories.
They just signed a lease with Westwood for 50,000 sq ft at the north end of Junction City for R&D. Expect to move those departments by the end of the year.

CC is building an eight booth paint facility on the 10 acres they already own to the south of building 10. Should be running by summer 2006.

Two new products by summer 2006 ? no details, didn't want to get killed!

CC gained 70% market share in two years.

CC must maintain lead by investment and education.

Class A coach sales in the industry were down 20% last year. CC sales were up.

CC has no finished goods inventory unlike other RV manufacturers.
Harder for CC to loan a coach to a charitable organization, unlike other manufacturers.

CC is alive and healthy. Planning 20% growth next year.

CC will never stop trying to make people happy, but never will make everyone happy.

Request for side door entry model so passenger has better view.
Show of hands "veto'ed" that idea. They will look into ways to improve passenger visibility.

Audience member had built a home around a new 12 foot high RV garage. Newer RV's don't fit. Industry is asking for more headroom. To drop to 12 feet, would mean smaller bays (less space), A/C to basement (less space), less headroom (against market trend).
Audience member requested more coaches less than or equal to 40 feet due to state laws. Owns 40 foot Intrigue First Avenue and does not want to downgrade to stay within the 40 feet. Wants to move upscale without increasing length.

How can we fix service? Initial pay for new techs is 60% more than last year. Shortage of qualified techs. Hoping to set up quality nation wide service coverage so you don't have to feel you need to come to the factory for the service. They fly techs into factory for training, and also send techs to service centers for cross training.

Automobile as 4000 parts, while a Magna as 23,000 parts, with only 15% made by Country Coach.

Several of the execs have been hired away from key positions in auto factories. CC hopes to improve the manufacturing process, quality control in the manufacturing process, and improved final inspection. Final inspectors have increased from 16 to 61. Every workstation now has their processes documented with construction pictures for every detailed step, part numbers/sizes, etc. Dale Carnegie training has also helped.

Audience member asked for bedroom ceiling fan (casa blanca). Lots of interest (even though higher ceilings and bigger garages are needed.

Audience member asked for storage in entrance step (which some coaches have), so that air chuck, gloves, etc can be stored.

Over the next two years, you will see the quality improve. Country Coach plans to maintain their "World Finest Motorcoaches" title.
Herb

Forum Moderator

Re: Summary of ?Company Session? on Sunday at Rally

Reply #1 – September 18, 2005, 07:36:49 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 18327

Herb, great review, thanks for your efforts. The company sounds like it is making progress. Keep up the good work! John 2002 Allure
#30702

Re: Summary of “Company Sessionâ€? on Sunday at Rally

Reply #2 – September 18, 2005, 10:51:25 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 18330

Great information and thanks for passing it along.
Ron

98 Allure 30185

Herb & Melitta Strandberg wrote:

Country Coach Owners Forum Country Coach Motorcoach Forum