Senior Management Failures at AS

[ROBERT CROSS]

JD

What I've done with our Classic.

Get a box of flat toothpicks, and a small bottle of MarineTex putty.
Mix a small batch, coat the TP's with the MT, insert skinny end first 'til full, cut off flush. Replace screw and let cure. It won't come loose again.😂👍

Bob
🇺🇸

[Andrew T]

My old minister used to say anything that can be done perfectly likely isn’t worth doing. In the short term it is much easier to build a semi-ridged square box than a flexible tube. In the long run the tube will last much longer.

I have known well every management team at Airstream since 1970. I have personally performed the PDI on a few Airstreams every year since 1970. When people say “they don’t build them like they used to” I always say” Thank Goodness no one would accept that today”.

Today’s team at Airstream is the best I have seen, they get it, they understand they are stewards of the brand not owners of the brand. I love their attention to detail and sincere willingness to listen. Sometimes it takes time to convey those changes through a 1000 person organization but I think they make changes faster than I can in a 60 person organization.
July 4th isn’t a holiday in Canada. We noticed a relatively minor production problem on two identical units that had just been built. I sent an email to the factory to let them know so they could correct it. I had answers on July 4th.
Sure they could cut production and improve fit and finish 5% but if they did that prices would be much higher and many Airstream owners would be without. I feel they have hit the right balance between growth and demand.

Just my 2 cents.

Andy

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

My old minister used to say anything that can be done perfectly likely isn’t worth doing. In the short term it is much easier to build a semi-ridged square box than a flexible tube. In the long run the tube will last much longer.

I have known well every management team at Airstream since 1970. I have personally performed the PDI on a few Airstreams every year since 1970. When people say “they don’t build them like they used to” I always say” Thank Goodness no one would accept that today”.

Today’s team at Airstream is the best I have seen, they get it, they understand they are stewards of the brand not owners of the brand. I love their attention to detail and sincere willingness to listen. Sometimes it takes time to convey those changes through a 1000 person organization but I think they make changes faster than I can in a 60 person organization.
July 4th isn’t a holiday in Canada. We noticed a relatively minor production problem on two identical units that had just been built. I sent an email to the factory to let them know so they could correct it. I had answers on July 4th.
Sure they could cut production and improve fit and finish 5% but if they did that prices would be much higher and many Airstream owners would be without. I feel they have hit the right balance between growth and demand.

Just my 2 cents.

Andy

You have been in "the game" a long time and your 2 cents means a lot!

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

JD

What I've done with our Classic.

Get a box of flat toothpicks, and a small bottle of MarineTex putty.
Mix a small batch, coat the TP's with the MT, insert skinny end first 'til full, cut off flush. Replace screw and let cure. It won't come loose again.😂👍

Bob
🇺🇸

Shouldn't have come loose the first time, had a little more attention to the weight the hinges are holding, and the depth of the sides being attached to. But your method certainly works...I have used it in the past. The screws are too small and too short to begin with however...thanks for your suggestion.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

Shouldn't have come loose the first time, had a little more attention to the weight the hinges are holding, and the depth of the sides being attached to. But your method certainly works...I have used it in the past. The screws are too small and too short to begin with however...thanks for your suggestion.

JD

I hear 'ya, that method has worked at least 10 times since our Classic was new. 🤗
I guess the quality police at JC have not seen fit to address this seldom occurring concern, maybe it's just you and I with the problem. 😂👎

Bob
🇺🇸

[Foiled Again]

I AM NOT ONE TO COMPLAIN, BUT...

Okay, I do complain... and seem to be doing it more. Eddie Haskell my 2012 EB has been pretty trouble free overall, but the skylight is leaking again and it took six tries to find the leaks by the door and... everything takes maintenance.

Almost anyone, even the inept, CAN fix the loose screw issue in a couple of minutes times 60 or so screws. It is simple.and easy. So why b****? But if it is that simple and easy why can't it be done during assembly? That is the reason for a lot of the petty b****ing. The problem is fixable. If Airstream doesn't want to fix it, how about just including a "bag o' screws, toothpicks and putty or glue with the sack o' manuals?

Paula

[Martee]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

....that some AS's make it thru the build process with few defects while others are plagued with many?

Seems to this observer that it might be more efficient to concentrate on the reasons for the ups and downs in the build, rather than eliminating percieved unnecessary steps.

Consistency of purpose would result in improved quality. [emoji106]

Bob
[emoji631]

YES....like maybe trailers built on Monday and friday typically have more defects??
Most likely not that simple.

[Ray Eklund]

I note comments by several members as CEO's with a large number of employees. My wife is very familiar with the Corporate Culture that can be developed without a Chain of Command.

Delegate AUTHORITY to those on the Line supervising. They can fix it immediately. Having a Supervisor over various stages of building an Airstream can keep the line efficient and moving along.

The supplier providing materials that have been done in a sloppy manner and not the line at Airstream doing the assembly could be the problem. You return a truck load of bad product and the problem may be a hassle, it will get fixed.

Taking a part from one on the line to repair another ready to go to delivery is not a good practice, anywhere.

Robert Cross Post #132... same with me. My Black Water PVC was hacksaw cut rough, short and at an angle. I managed to find a flexible rubber to slide and join the Black Tank so it would not drip. No one checks out if the plumbing, grey, black or fresh water tanks leak at the place of purchase. Being new the connection adhered... better to each other and seems to be holding. The black PVC was not round, but had a flat spot that created the entire problem from the Black Tank, making it obsolete but a hassle to replace or repair.

Owning a travel trailer is an experience of learning how to do much of the service work ourselves. Some owners would rather pay someone.

Casinos have an better approach as a customer. If a product they use at their Casino has a flaw or defect, the entire lot is returned and let the manufacturer figure it out. Airstream should do this with a cabinet supplier, water pump, ceiling vent fans and other items that may have faulty product on the line that are caught. Even suppliers have a bad run from a new employee or an employee that is in the process of quitting in a week or three.

The savings on 'warranty work' would be immense, as the RV Retail Lots are no doubt getting a flat rate for warranty work, but takes them two or three times the hours to make the repairs. Unhappy customers make bad comments on Forums like ours.

[Foiled Again]

Favorite sayings:

Never start vast projects with half-vast ideas.

Dozens of people as NASA knew.the space shuttle needed a 3rd gasket between segments of the boosters and some kind of containment system to keep styrofoam insulation chunks from hitting insulating tiles on the shuttle but no one was specifically charged with delaying or aborting the.launches if.the design was.lethally flawed.

Safety nets sometimes fail.because 5 people each think someone else will catch this (and will probably catch hell for mentioning it.

[turk123]

Originally Posted by Martee

YES....like maybe trailers built on Monday and friday typically have more defects??
Most likely not that simple.

Well, I agree with the post above. It's just not that simple.

I have a new trailer coming and I have been informed that it takes about 1 week for a trailer to get through the factory. So if that's the case, each trailer could have one Friday AND one Monday. It is even conceivable on a 5 day work week to have three of the dreaded days! "We're all gonna die"

There are now over a thousand employees with most working in the plants. We will have to assume there are new hires and employees in training. The department supervisor is probably responsible for his area and probably has his hands' full providing training and a careful eye management responsibility to catch the issues, but they do get out. Not intentionally, but it happens.

So what about the dealer? Does he have any responsibility in this matter? I'm paying $569 dealer prep for my new unit. That encompasses some paperwork, but couldn't they at least turn on the air conditioner when I pick it up? How about hook up some power and charge the dead batteries! Most dealers (and when I say dealer I really mean salesperson) will try to make the customer feel like they really care, but the service department just pulled the trailer out front two hours ago and the salesman probably has little time to check everything. That happens when you ask him to turn on the AC and it doesn't work. But is it the salesperson responsibility to run a flight check?

How about ourselves? We pick up the trailer, drive it home and find problems. Now it's on us unless the dealer is close by. When I pick up our new trailer I am staying at a nearby campground for a week to ensure all systems are running properly. I'm also cognizant of the above two parties and their handling of my new baby and will fix the small things myself. It's just easier and in the process, I learn more about my trailer for future issues.

So maybe it's an attitude thing. Some here say, "We've had no problems since we owned her". I'm like that. I probably fixed or replaced many items on my last trailer (tires, jack, converter, speakers, sub-woofer, pillows, bedspread, mirror gas shocks, and the list goes on and on. But you know what? I also say I have had a good experience with Airstream and have had very few issues. It has not turned me sour and I love my AS.

It just the attitude you approach this lifestyle with.

So maybe it's something Management and the dealers should also work on.

[AFTER TAXES]

its all about money$$$$$$$$....how many a/s can we get out in a month
big numbers game ! what would wally say ?

very

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

My old minister used to say anything that can be done perfectly likely isn’t worth doing. In the short term it is much easier to build a semi-ridged square box than a flexible tube. In the long run the tube will last much longer.

I have known well every management team at Airstream since 1970. I have personally performed the PDI on a few Airstreams every year since 1970. When people say “they don’t build them like they used to” I always say” Thank Goodness no one would accept that today”.

Today’s team at Airstream is the best I have seen, they get it, they understand they are stewards of the brand not owners of the brand. I love their attention to detail and sincere willingness to listen. Sometimes it takes time to convey those changes through a 1000 person organization but I think they make changes faster than I can in a 60 person organization.
July 4th isn’t a holiday in Canada. We noticed a relatively minor production problem on two identical units that had just been built. I sent an email to the factory to let them know so they could correct it. I had answers on July 4th.
Sure they could cut production and improve fit and finish 5% but if they did that prices would be much higher and many Airstream owners would be without. I feel they have hit the right balance between growth and demand.

Just my 2 cents.

Andy

Bravo!

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by AFTER TAXES

its all about money$$$$$$$$....how many a/s can we get out in a month

big numbers game ! what would wally say ?



very

He would say without profit there can be no new Airstreams......

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

He would say without profit there can be no new Airstreams......

I doubt that profit at any cost was a driving factor in his mission statement...👍

Bob
🇺🇸

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

I doubt that profit at any cost was a driving factor in his mission statement...[emoji106]



Bob

[emoji631]

Mission statements are cheap.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Mission statements are cheap.

Get real....


Wally Byam’s Creed & Code of Ethics
“In the heart of these words is an entire life’s dream. To those of you who find in the promise of these words your promise, I bequeath this creed… my dream belongs to you.”

To place the great wide world at your doorstep for you who yearn to travel with all the comforts of home.
To provide a more satisfying, meaningful way of travel that offers complete travel independence, wherever and whenever you choose to go or stay.
To keep alive and make real an enduring promise of high adventure and faraway lands… of rediscovering old places and new interests.
To open a whole world of new experiences… a new dimension in enjoyment where travel adventure and good fellowship are your constant companions.
To encourage clubs and rallies that provide an endless source of friendships, travel fun and personal expressions.
To lead caravans wherever the four winds blow… over twinkling boulevards, across trackless deserts… to the traveled and untraveled corners of the earth.
To play some part in promoting international goodwill and understanding among the peoples of the world through person-to-person contact.
To refine and perfect our product by continuous travel-testing over the highways and byways of the world.
To strive endlessly to stir the venturesome spirit that moves you to follow a rainbow to its end… and thus make your travel dreams come true.
– Wally Byam

Code of Ethics

To be ever mindful of our responsibility to Wally Byam Caravan Club International, Inc., and through conduct, indicate to the public that membership in this organization is an assurance of our courtesy on the road and good will to all peoples and countries.To be ever mindful of what we say or print with respect to the affect on others so as to avoid disharmony and ill feelings among club members and to dedicate ourselves to the work of cementing together the members of WBCCI in bonds of good fellowship and mutual understanding.To conduct ourselves in a manner to inspire others engaged in recreational vehicle travel to a full appreciation of the intent and meaning of this code.To maintain our camps in an orderly manner and leave them in the same way.

Bob
🇺🇸

[AFTER TAXES]

sounds like ROBERT CROSS has all the answers..........

hmmmmm..........

[r carl]

The company has been sold how many times since Wally?

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by r carl

The company has been sold how many times since Wally?

Twice. Once in the early 1960s, once around 1980.

[Mollysdad]

The days of Wally Byam, Walt Disney, and Sam Walton are long gone.
The job of senior management is not to make you happy but to sell Airstreams. They sold one to you, didn't they? They succeeded.
If sales fell 40% but everyone was delighted, they'd be fired in a heartbeat.