Computer Error RE: Confirmations/Configurations

[tipo158]

Originally Posted by rawlus®

mini's production is probably more than 4 times smart's - and, things would probably be much different if EVERY mini had to be custom configured and ordered.

the problem of tracking is probably easier when custom orders are the exception rather than the rule.

not faulting mini's system. just noting that they are hardly apples/apples comparison to smart.

Explain to me how tracking is easier when custom orders are the exception? If you are making a bunch of cars that are the same, you don't need to track them as closely (just send a bunch and you are bound to have one that matches an order). If you are making individual cars to custom order, you need to track them closely to make sure that each custom thing is done.

As noted elsewhere, custom orders are not the exception (at the time that I spoke with the dealer up here, almost every car that they got was custom order) and MINI has far more order options. Go to the MINI web page and go through their "Build a car" section.

There are so few combinations of colors and options for a smart, they could build batches of each and then match them to orders later.

As far as MINI building 4 times as many cars, they are still, just like smart, built at just one plant, first Longbridge, now Cowley.

For the MINI, wait time was long when the car was new and was still 10 months two years after it was introduced. Friends of mine got theirs after 3 months last week.

With MINI, you go to a dealer, complete an order with a $500 refundable deposit and you get your car some day. With smart, you go to their web site, pay $99, wait to configure your order, get assigned to a dealer and you get your car some day.

I see lots of similarities.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by tipo158

... There are so few combinations of colors and options for a smart, they could build batches of each and then match them to orders later. ...

Actually you might be able to build 80% of the car before you ever have to hang the colored panels. Dunno.

[Dunerunner]

You have to hand it to smartUSA and PAG for not only introducing a unique automobile to the US market but convincing dealership owners to open several smart centers accross the country to distribute and maintain the new car line. As I recall, BMW was the outlet for the mini cooper and those dealerships were established and had a proven car line to support them should the mini become unpopular with the US car buyer.

[Dunerunner]

duplicate post - sheesh!

[toogrvy]

Originally Posted by Dunerunner

You have to hand it to smartUSA and PAG for not only introducing a unique automobile to the US market but convincing dealership owners to open several smart centers accross the country to distribute and maintain the new car line. As I recall, BMW was the outlet for the mini cooper and those dealerships were established and had a proven car line to support them should the mini become unpopular with the US car buyer.

Much the same as Smart being sold through MB dealerships isn't it? Maybe I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that all Smart centers are located at established MB dealerships.

[Dunerunner]

No, I believe there are a good number of stand alone smart centers around the country. I did not mean to give the impression that those smart center dealerships aren't owned by individuals or auto groups with big bucks, they are but my smart center is not colocated with an existing MB dealership.

[CruisingAZ]

Originally Posted by Old smart

As I see it, an early C&C isn't significant unless it is immediately turned into a build order, and we don't know that. An erroneous C&C could be held until it was slotted into its proper sequence in the dealer's area of responsibility.

That is exactly what I was thinking. A person can configure today, that does not garantee that they will get their car any faster, smart can hold a confirure order for as long as they desire prior to placing the actual order to build.

[Dunerunner]

Originally Posted by CruisingAZ

That is exactly what I was thinking. A person can configure today, that does not garantee that they will get their car any faster, smart can hold a confirure order for as long as they desire prior to placing the actual order to build.

True! Does anyone know how the factory prioritizes production of the three models? Are they all produced frame up on the same assembly line? Do they produce two months of Pure, then Passion followed by two months production of Cabriolets? You can tell I know nothing here!! I'll guess that those vehicles with the highest demand are getting the priority.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by Old smart

Actually you might be able to build 80% of the car before you ever have to hang the colored panels. Dunno.

Excellent point. Another point, and of course it's so easy to play Monday morning quarterback. But assuming the above point is true, perhaps there should have been a larger effort by Smart to stockpile a significant number of cars built-up to the level whereby options come into play. They should have known that demand would likely be three times what their supply was going to be. Now with gas prices on their way to doubling and Detroit floundering and flopping around, unable to bring out a car to answer the Smart, they had a real chance to seal the market. Oh well...

[Smartdavis]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Excellent point. Another point, and of course it's so easy to play Monday morning quarterback. But assuming the above point is true, perhaps there should have been a larger effort by Smart to stockpile a significant number of cars built-up to the level whereby options come into play. They should have known that demand would likely be three times what their supply was going to be. Now with gas prices on their way to doubling and Detroit floundering and flopping around, unable to bring out a car to answer the Smart, they had a real chance to seal the market. Oh well...

I'm not sure any company would intentionally want to "stockpile" inventory. That would be a somewhat risky proposition since any market could turn and you would be left with your money stuck in a product that nobody was buying. I think most companies use "just in time" manufacturing where parts arrive at about the same instant you need them, and the factories ship the product out the door as fast as they can. As to Detroit....I think we're going to see a few more higher mileage options coming, but way too slowly to meet the gas crisis.