NMMA presents CSI Awards at IBEX

MIAMI, Fla. – The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) honored 29 boat and engine manufacturers today with a Marine Industry CSI Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction, at a special ceremony during the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) at the Miami Beach Convention Center, the association reported in a statement today.

The CSI Award program recognizes participating companies that have actively measured customer satisfaction to pursue continuous improvement. Award recipients have achieved and maintained an independently-measured standard of excellence of 90 percent or higher in customer satisfaction over the past year, based on information provided by more than 32,000 consumers who have purchased a new boat and engine during that period (July 2002 to June 2003), according to the association.

The following companies were presented with awards:

• Aqua Patio, Godfrey Marine in the category of Pontoon Boats

• Beneteau U.S.A in the category of Pontoon Boats

• Bennington Marine in the category of Pontoon Boats

• Cabo Yachts in the category of Inboard Fishing Express Boats

• Chaparral Boats in the category of Sterndrive Bowrider Boats

• Cobalt Boats in the categories of Sterndrive Bowrider Boats, Sterndrive Cuddy Express Boats and Inboard Express Cruisers

• Cobia, Yamaha Boat Co. in the category of Fiberglass Outboard Boats

• Cruiser Yachts in the category of Inboard Express Cruiser Boats

• Four Winns, Genmar in the categories of Fiberglass Outboard Boats, Deckboats and Sterndrive Bowrider Boats

• G3 Boats, Yamaha Boat Co. in the category of Aluminum Outboard Boats

• Glastron in the category of Sterndrive Bowrider Boats

• Grady-White Boats, Inc. in the category of Fiberglass Outboard Boats

• HarrisKayot in the categories of Pontoon Boats and Sport and Deck Boats

• Island Packet Yachts in the category of Inboard Powered Sailboats

• Javelin (Stratos), Genmar in the category of Deckboats

• Lowe Boats, Genmar in the categories of Pontoon Boats and Aluminum Outboard Boats

• Manitou Pontoon Boats in the category of Pontoon Boats

• Parti Kraft, Godfrey Marine in the category of Pontoon Boats

• Pro-Line Boats, Inc. in the category of Fiberglass Outboard Boats

• Pursuit Boats in the category of Fiberglass Outboard Boats

• Regal Marine in the categories of Sterndrive Bowrider Boats and Sterndrive Cuddy Express

• Regulator Marine in the category of Fiberglass Outboard Boats

• Sea-Pro Boats, Inc. in the category of Fiberglass Outboard Boats

• Seaswirl Boats, Genmar in the categories of Sterndrive Bowrider Boats and Fiberglass Outboard Boats

• Skeeter Products, Inc., Yamaha Boat Co. in the category of Fiberglass Outboard Boats

• Stratos Boats, Genmar in the category of Fiberglass Outboard Boats

• Sweetwater, Godfrey Marine in the category of Pontoon Boats

• Yamaha Motor Corp. in the category of Outboard Engine

“With the myriad of options competing for consumers’ leisure time, it is vitally important that the boating industry identify and cater to the needs of their customers. The companies represented here today typify how a proactive effort is a win-win proposition for the consumer and a manufacturer,” said NMMA President Thom Dammrich.

NMMA launched the Marine Industry CSI program in 2001 to provide boat and engine manufacturers a cost-effective tool to raise the bar on customer satisfaction in the boating industry. Since the program’s inception, more than 250,000 surveys have been sent out to new boat and engine customers, allowing more than 50 participating manufacturer companies to monitor customer satisfaction on an ongoing basis, and to benchmark themselves against industry averages, the association stated.

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