Case Study: Smoker Craft achieves paperless inspections and faster warranty resolution with Hertzler Systems Inc.'s GainSeeker

Eliminating Paper Enables Improved Business Performance and Cultural Transformation

Smoker Craft, a boat manufacturer, was overwhelmed by paper-based inspection records that lived in filing cabinets and off-site boxes, making timely access and analysis next to impossible. Quality Assurance Manager Dave Frey faced hours of manual searching, inconsistent inspector evaluations, and decisions based on stale data. To address this, Smoker Craft engaged Hertzler Systems Inc and deployed its Manufacturing Intelligence Platform using the GainSeeker Suite on iPads.

Hertzler Systems Inc replaced clipboards with GainSeeker-guided iPad inspections, barcode scanning, and the ability to capture photos and audio, standardizing data collection and simplifying training. The solution enabled rapid drill-down analysis (Pareto charts), faster inspections, improved warranty resolution, elimination of paper storage, and a cultural shift toward accountability and ownership—making data immediately accessible for weekly and monthly reviews and focusing resources on the areas needing the most rework.

Smoker Craft

Dave Frey

Quality Assurance Manager