Challenge
- Smoker Craft relied on paper-based systems for quality control
- Custom boat models complicated standardization and documentation
- Managing 450+ models daily with pencil and paper was difficult
Solution
- FastField was implemented for inspections, featuring cloud storage, image capture, and automated alerts
- Custom forms and reports streamlined the process, reducing manual errors
- FastField fully automated data gathering
Results
- Reduced time on quality control inspection and compliance documentation from a 3-hour test plus full-day follow-up to just the test duration
- Improved traceability and accountability across departments, reducing warranty claims and compliance issues by going fully digital with FastField
- Achieved documentation and inspection points for 80% of items in warranty claims, minimizing the financial impact of claims on the organization
Summary
Smoker Craft, a leading manufacturer of aluminum fishing boats, pontoons, and fiberglass boats, faced significant challenges with outdated quality inspection processes. By adopting FastField, they transformed their operations, increasing efficiency and gaining better control over warranty claims. This digital shift helped reduce the time spent on quality control tasks and minimized errors, providing a faster, more reliable process that now covers 80% of warranty claims.
The Struggle
As production ramped up to nearly 100 boats a day, Smoker Craft struggled with an archaic, paper-based quality inspection system that could not keep pace with its diverse product lineup of 450+ boat models. Each model required unique inspections, but manual processes led to inefficiencies, missed documentation, and frequent compliance issues. The warranty process was painstaking, as tracking issues across multiple boat models became cumbersome and costly.
The FastField Fix
Smoker Craft implemented FastField to digitize and streamline their entire quality inspection workflow. With over 50 custom forms and automated workflows, FastField provided the flexibility and precision they needed to manage quality checks across different boat models and divisions. The drag-and-drop form builder allowed them to create tailored inspections that captured all necessary data in real-time, while FastField’s cloud storage enabled easy retrieval of documentation, reducing manual follow-up work.
The FastField Impact
The impact was immediate and significant. By shifting to a fully digital system, Smoker Craft cut inspection times dramatically—from a 3-hour test followed by a full day of documentation to just the duration of the test itself. They now capture 250,000+ data points daily, significantly reducing manual errors and increasing the accuracy of their records. FastField’s robust documentation system enabled the team to deny unjustified warranty claims, saving the company money.
FastField also provided insights into quality trends, enabling Smoker Craft to make proactive improvements in their production process, reducing defects, and increasing efficiency across their various boat divisions.
Moving Forward with FastField
FastField has not only transformed Smoker Craft's quality inspection process but also made a measurable impact on their bottom line. The company's ability to cover 80% of warranty claims with accurate documentation, while dramatically reducing the time spent on inspections, has streamlined operations and increased overall productivity. With improved traceability and accountability, Smoker Craft now confidently moves forward, building boats with pride, precision, and a future-proof quality assurance system.
FastField was the solution Smoker Craft needed to shift from manual headaches to automated excellence.
