Coachmen
RV
Group's
best-in-class
quality
is
receiving
third-party
validation.
The
Recreation
Vehicle
Industry
Association
(RVIA)
completed
its
September
quality
audit
of
Coachmen's
Indiana
facilities
and
gave
the
RV
manufacturer
the
best
score
it
has
ever
received.
Members
of
RVIA
are
required
to
allow
the
industry
association
to
conduct
a
number
of
quality
audits
each
year.
During
these
inspections,
auditors
arrive
unannounced
with
a
checklist
of
more
than
850
code
requirements
to
examine.
Any
code
requirement
not
met
by
the
manufacturer
receives
a
deviation
listing
ranging
from
a
Class
A
deviation
(most
severe)
to
a
Class
C
deviation
(least
severe).
"We
received
a
perfect
score
across
the
board
with
the
exception
of
a
single
Class
C
deviation
(least
severe)
in
only
one
plant,"
said
Michael
R.
Terlep,
president
of
Coachmen
RV
Group.
"To
date,
our
average
audit
results
have
improved
71
percent
compared
with
2006
averages.
This
is
not
just
a
one-time
improvement,"
Terlep
added.
Another
audit
was
conducted
recently
by
Ford
Motor
Company
to
ensure
Coachmen
meets
the
minimum
requirements
of
the
Ford
Quality
Program.
Coachmen
scored
104
out
of
a
possible
105
points.
Inspection
Leader
James
Bartlett
wrote
on
his
final
assessment:
"Well
done!
It
is
clear
that
Coachmen's
approach
to
Ford's
QVM
program,
and
quality
in
general,
is
positive,
dynamic,
and
it
is
getting
results."
Terlep
said
these
two
independent,
third-party
audits
demonstrate
that
Coachmen
RV
Group
is
serious
about
delivering
best-in-class
quality!
RVIA
research
shows
that
“quality
of
the
RV”
(or
lack
of
it)
is
the
top
consumer
concern
with
the
recreational
vehicle
industry.
"As
part
of
our
company's
focus,
we
have
empowered
our
employees
to
stop
production
to
correct
defects
before
an
RV
leaves
the
plant;
we've
implemented
an
incentive
plan
that
rewards
workers
for
measurable
improvements
in
quality;
and
we've
invested
in
new
technology
that
is
helping
us
achieve
best-in-class
quality,"
said
Terlep.
Consumers
are
also
recognizing
Coachmen's
quality
efforts
and
focused
product
strategies.
For
the
first
half
of
2007,
Coachmen
gained
retail
market
share
in
almost
every
product
category,
according
to
Statistical
Surveys,
Inc.
Diesel
sales
are
up
9.8
percent;
Class
Cs,
up
14.8
percent;
travel
trailers,
up
16.9
percent;
and
fifth
wheels,
up
4.3
percent.
“We
have
momentum,
and
this
is
only
the
beginning.
Coachmen
is
absolutely
committed
to
providing
best-in-class
quality
products
and
key
indicators
clearly
suggest
that
we
are.
From
here,
we
just
keep
getting
better,”
said
Terlep.
