The Company
Hines-Farley Offshore Yachts, Inc. is a Suffolk-based crafter of custom-made sports fishing boats. Known for speed, beauty, and quality, the Hines-Farley yacht was named "Best of the Best" by The Robb Report in 1999.

The Situation
Owner and boat builder Sonny Hines has built this company on his name and reputation as one of the preeminent boat builders in the country. Though bearing his name, the 13-year-old company has almost 40 employees, including Hines' wife, brother, son, and daughter, all integral to the company's success. It was Hines' desire to expand the function and focus of the company to include his entire construction team, particularly his family. "This is not a one-person operation and it was extremely important to me that the company's reputation not be built around a single individual. In the future, as I spend more time promoting the company, I want to be comfortable in delegating responsibilities to management to ensure a smooth running business through the inevitable transition that every business of this type eventually has," said Hines.

The Response
Tim Early, Technology Applications Center (TAC) Manufacturing Specialist at Old Dominion University (ODU) and VPMEP Project Manager Jim Tate teamed up to tackle a range of projects for Hines-Farley. Three goals were the central thrust: maintain quality, increase production, and enable the company to operate smoothly through any future transition period. Early and a group of ODU engineering students helped the company document process flow, while Tate helped the company with business and financial planning.

The Results
Many processes have already been streamlined, including implementation of payroll software that cut the processing time in half. The company anticipates that Sonny can now comfortably be away promoting Hines-Farley with the knowledge that the organization has a sound business plan, a documented process flow and schedule, and a successfully implemented software package. "We can better inform our customers of progress and the percentage of completion of the boat," said Hines. "Knowing when to order within a timeline so you don't have to deplete capital and wait for parts is critical to our business. It enables us to match people and jobs and keep more accurate records."

Management's Comment
"The system that VPMEP and TAC have put in place has helped us tremendously improve our company structure. Their commitment is non-stop and they have knowledge and access to resources. We've never used private consultants. Jim and Tim are the first and only consultants we'll call. They're like a part of the company. It's been a great relationship," said Hines.
 

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