The 1999 Quality Circle Awards are (in alphabetical order): Carriage; Lance; Tiffin; and Winnebago Industries. Honorable Mention: Teton Homes. Most Improved: Damon Corp.

RV dealers give RV manufacturers the highest satisfaction rating for competitive product design, according to the latest Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) survey by the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA). With a score of 80.6, satisfaction with competitive product design was three points higher than the next highest category, competitive product quality (77.6). These DSI scores are averages for all manufacturers rated and based on a 100 point scale.

Now in its sixth year, RVDA's Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) asks RV dealers to rate manufacturers' performance in four major categories: sales, products, management, and service/warranty support. The results of the 1999 DSI survey   reflect 1,409 individual manufacturer evaluations from 463 RV dealers.

Overall averages show dealers were least satisfied with the quality of technician training (58.0) and the next day air shipment of warranty parts (62.2). The December issue of RVDA's monthly membership magazine, RV Executive Today, will contain a complete copy of the DSI report.

Manufacturers with DSI ratings of 80 points or higher and that received 15 or more dealer evaluations qualified for the 1999 Quality Circle Award. Manufacturers that scored high in the DSI study, but received less than 15 evaluations, qualify for Honorable Mention recognition. Manufacturers that showed the most improvement from 1998 qualified for Most Improved recognition.

RVDA does not reveal the names of dealers participating in the DSI survey. RV  manufactu   rers receive a detailed report of their scores. The awards were presented at the recent Louisville show.

Above left: RVDA chairman Randy Biles (right) presents DSi Quality Circle Award to Jack Cole, Lance Camper and (above right) to Bob Tiffin of Tiffin. Below left, Tony Ingram, Teton Homes, accepts Honorable Mention DSI Award, and (below right), Mike Molino joins Biles in presenting Award to Winnebago's Bruce Hertzke and Jim Jaskoviak.

 
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