MasterCraft Boats has joined an elite group of businesses in the US as the 2015 winner of IndustryWeek’s Best Plants Award.

The prestigious honour recognises operational excellence in leading-edge manufacturing facilities across North America that have successfully implemented strategies to increase competitiveness, enhance customer satisfaction, and foster stimulating and rewarding work environments.

Michael Hardicker, MD of MasterCraft Boats UK, explained, ‘Over the last few years, MasterCraft has implemented a Company-wide charter to improve both its production facilities and the manufacturing process, together ensuring the highest level of quality in the construction of our boats. We work closely with our colleagues in the US and they are always receptive to our input. Our own superyacht tenders division is a good example of that cooperation.’ MasterCraft Boats UK handles worldwide sales of bespoke superyacht tenders with a Yanmar inboard diesel conversion, as well as sales throughout the UK of the full sporstboats line.

Now in its 26th year, the IndustryWeek Best Plants Award has recognised US-based manufacturers such as Harley Davidson, Lockheed Martin and Toyota who have all been recipients of the award. MasterCraft was also a nominee in 2014.

‘MasterCraft is honoured to earn this award and be recognized among these elite manufacturing facilities,’ said Terry McNew, President and CEO of MasterCraft. ‘Across the Company, we continue to set new benchmarks for operational excellence and establish best practices in manufacturing. Our dedicated employees, management team and board members each were instrumental in the Company earning this award.’

The Company stands alone as the only marine manufacturer to achieve three separate ISO certifications for Quality, Environmental, and Safety management systems across its production and product development operations. ISO standards represent international best practices that have been in place for over 60 years.

MasterCraft’s boats have been hand-built by master craftsmen in Tennessee since the Company’s inception in 1968. The Company-wide culture shift embracing operational excellence did not just come from the top down; instead, factory line craftsmen were empowered to suggest ideas for improving the production process and a significant number of employee-generated improvements have been implemented.  Boats are customised for superyacht clients by MasterCraft Boats UK at their facility in the North West of England. 

The positive results can readily be seen across the Company’s operating metrics including an improved first pass quality yield over the last three years of close to 75% and a significant reduction in warranty costs during the same time period. In terms of benefitting consumers, MasterCraft’s customer satisfaction index has outperformed the national average three years in a row and the Company offers an industry leading five year, bow-to-stern warranty.

MasterCraft is exhibiting at Dusseldorf Boat Show this weekend and launches its NXT Global Edition on Saturday. The Saltwater Series X26 is being presented in Europe for the first time and is available as a bespoke superyacht tender with Yanmar inboard diesel, from MasterCraft Boats UK. Hall 9 C56.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES Chris Sams Rafferty (Sam) at Pomegranate PR                            e: sam@pomegranatepr.com m: +356 9978 4040

WORLDWIDE ENQUIRIES MasterCraft Boats UK Head Office & UK Showroom, Imperium House, 72 Roman Way, Longridge Road, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 5BB, United Kingdom 

t: +44 845 676 7876 or +44 1772 851133 m: +44 7786 833710 e: michael@mastercraft.co.uk e: info@mastercraft-superyachts.com w: www.mastercraft-superyachts.com