Suppliers
Have a product or service that you want to sell to Sea Ray but don't know where to start? Here are some suggestions.
1. Do Your Homework
Click the Get To Know Us link in the left-hand navigation bar for suggestions on the best ways to learn about Sea Ray and to determine if your product is a good match for ours.
2. Introduce Yourself
In our Contact Us section, you'll find out what steps to take to ensure you get an audience with the right person.
3. Prepare Your Quotation
Reaching an Agreement explains the final step to becoming a Sea Ray partner. It is contingent upon quality evaluation of your product and the appropriateness of your formal quotation.
Once your bid is accepted and your product is approved — Eureka! — you join a very exclusive group of OEM suppliers. Go to Sea Ray Partners for general guidelines and more information.
Back to top
Get to Know Us
Conduct a Literature Search. You can download our product brochures and spec sheets from our archives or our current online brochure.
Read our Purchasing Policy. It will give you a general overview of how we work.
Study our Purchasing Mission. This is a critical part of our supplier relationship.
Familiarize yourself with Sea Ray's Corporate Mission. It outlines our goals and objectives.
Find out about PACE, our process of continuous improvement.
Decide which of your products offers the best match for Sea Ray's needs and ask yourself:
- Will it add value to the Sea Ray product?
- Are we presently using a competitor's product, or is your product unique and therefore new to Sea Ray?
- From a quality standpoint, how does your product stack up to what we are currently using?
- Are colors a consideration? Are you able to color match to our décor?
- How will your product hold up in the marine environment? Extreme heat, high humidity, salt water, suntan oils, etc., are encountered frequently.
In other words, do your homework. Read and ask questions. Look around. Talk with our customers. Visit a marina. Explore our website. And, by all means, spend time with a Sea Ray dealer. To find your nearest one, use our Dealer Locator.
Back to top
Reaching an Agreement
All products used on a Sea Ray vessel must be approved by our Product Development & Engineering (PD&E) group and the appropriate manufacturing locations. The appropriate Sea Ray Commodity Purchasing Manager will guide you through this process. Suppliers are expected to have conducted their own product quality evaluations and will be requested to supply a copy of their findings along with the samples submitted for Sea Ray's evaluation. In certain cases, Sea Ray may require industry certifications (i.e. NMMA, ABYC, UL, SAE, CE).
Prepare your formal quotation. Your Commodity Purchasing Manager will assist you in understanding Sea Ray's volume requirements and will provide you with applicable prints if available. Your quotation should include, but not be limited to, the following:
- Your part number, Sea Ray part number if available, package quantity and description
- Price* and minimum order
- Shipping and payment terms
- FOB point
- Your warranty policy**
- Term of the quotation
- Tooling requirements
- Lead time requirements
Quotations are evaluated on a “total cost” basis. By this, we are referring to all the costs associated with purchasing a particular component, including installation labor, freight, payment terms, inventory costs, estimated warranty cost, etc. All quotations are confidential, as is Sea Ray's current pricing.
*The more detail you provide us in terms of raw material content, labor and overhead, the better we will be able to evaluate your proposal.
**Sea Ray warranties its product, parts and labor for a minimum of one year from the date of sale to the consumer. Suppliers who exceed these guidelines receive more consideration than those who do not. Some key components may require a multi-year warranty. Your Commodity Purchasing Manager will provide details.
Back to top
Sea Ray Partners
All Sea Ray suppliers are governed by specific requirements. Here is an overview of what to expect as a new OEM supplier.
Sea Ray uses a Material Requirements Plan (MRP) to forecast and plan our requirements. Various planning tools are in place to assist the buyer in scheduling orders in accordance with the supplier's lead time requirements. Be reminded that the marine industry is dynamic. Sea Ray takes pride in meeting the customer's requirements, and therefore, you can expect a certain amount of fluctuation in our long-range forecast. The degree of “nervousness” in this schedule is, of course, dependent upon the type of product being purchased.
Important facts you need to know about Sea Ray Purchase Orders:
Orders are generated via our in-house computer system and are generally faxed to the supplier directly from that system. If, for some reason, you feel that an original is necessary, you and the appropriate Commodity Purchasing Manager and Buyer/Planner can work out the details.
Be advised that orders may come to you from either corporate purchasing or the purchasing departments at the individual manufacturing locations.
If, for any reason, you are unable to meet the requirements as stated on the purchase order, you are expected to contact the buyer as soon as the discrepancy is discovered. Advance notice of an impending delay is required.
Sea Ray assumes no responsibility for materials purchased or produced in excess of that which is identified on the purchase order. This is done as much for your protection as ours. We strive to keep our inventories low, and our suppliers are encouraged to do the same. Through properly managed inventories, we are better able to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers. Further, excess inventory increases the likelihood of obsolescence, which, in turn, raises the cost of both your product and ours.
When invoicing and generating the appropriate packing documents, please be aware of the following requirements:
All cartons, packing slips and invoices must be marked with the Sea Ray part number, quantities of each included and the purchase order number. All Sea Ray suppliers are required to ship product with two-dimensional bar codes affixed. These bar codes consist of a header and detail that include all packing list information, and individual carton labels on each box/package.
The timing of payment terms becomes effective upon the receipt of the invoice or the material, whichever is later.
When Sea Ray is responsible for the freight charges, it is imperative that shipping instructions on the purchase order are explicitly followed.
In the event that an item we purchased needs to be returned, the following procedures apply:
We will request a Return Goods Authorization (RGA) number when required by the supplier. All returns will be accompanied by a Sea Ray returned goods form that describes the reason for the return and, in some cases, the requested disposition (repair and return, apply to next order, issue credit, etc.).
It is a Sea Ray policy that all returns to the original supplier will be debited to that supplier's account upon the return. This procedure ensures that the proper accounting is taking place and that the part is dispositioned in a timely manner.
Back to top
Purchasing Policy
The following information is provided to assist suppliers in understanding Sea Ray's procedures, policies, and practices that are designed to lend continuity to our supplier / customer relationships. This brief outline is intended to be a general overview and not a complete summary. The purchasing staff is able to provide additional details as needed.
Product Quality - Sea Ray expects suppliers to furnish quality products that conform to specifications and customer demands on a consistent and ongoing basis. This is of absolute necessity in supporting Sea Ray's position as the quality leader in the marine industry.
Product Delivery - In today's competitive business environment, manufacturers and suppliers must work diligently to streamline the supply chain. Dependable delivery is essential to a mutually beneficial Sea Ray / supplier relationship.
New Products / Technologies - Sea Ray encourages and expects suppliers to introduce new ideas, products and technologies to our business. Through this creativity, Sea Ray is able to offer the consumer a unique and more advanced product relative to our competition. This premise is a foundation of our long-term supplier relationships.
Value Analysis - Our suppliers, both prospective and current, are encouraged to provide direction and input on Sea Ray value analysis opportunities aimed at enhancing our product value. Conversely, we are eager to work with suppliers in value-engineering their products to create mutual benefits. Do not hesitate to present your ideas or ask for assistance in this regard.
Pricing - Sea Ray desires multi-year agreements that provide an assurance of continuous business. Our preferred suppliers are consequently well positioned to develop long-term strategic plans for their business, including R&D, facilities and equipment investments. In exchange for this volume consideration and long-term agreement, we expect our suppliers to commit to stable pricing and annual price reductions over the term of our agreement. When necessary, any proposed price increases are to be presented for review 60 days prior to the effective date of change. Of course, any price increase must be substantiated and “earned” through performance during the preceding period.
Warranty - Sea Ray warrants its products for a minimum of one year from date of sale to the consumer, with an emphasis on ensuring customer satisfaction. Sea Ray's warranty covers both parts and labor. Our suppliers are expected to support this warranty by offering the same warranty on their products. Suppliers will receive a quarterly “Warranty Claims Statement” so they can review recent warranty claims and provide feedback to customer service and corporate purchasing regarding the disposition and corrective action on defective parts.
Replacement Parts - Consumers demand readily available replacement components and, by working together, Sea Ray and its suppliers will meet this expectation. Sea Ray is committed to making spare and repair parts available for previous model-year products. Suppliers are expected to support our replacement parts program by making products from past model years readily available. Sea Ray will periodically send suppliers a “Parts Order Performance Report” that identifies the number of days it takes to ship each replacement parts order. Our goal is to ship 75 percent of all replacement parts orders to the customer within one day, 85 percent within two days, and 95 percent within five days of receipt of the order.
Return Policy - In the event that Sea Ray must return a part to a supplier, regardless of the circumstances, it is our policy to debit the supplier for the cost of that part. “Return Goods Authorization” numbers will be obtained in advance of the return if required by the supplier. Each return will be accompanied by a document that details the reason for the return, the party responsible and disposition. The supplier may re-invoice Sea Ray for returned parts when repairs / replacements are made. All repair charges must be approved in advance by Sea Ray Purchasing.
Product Liability - Suppliers are required to maintain general product liability insurance with respect to the products supplied to Sea Ray. This coverage will be a minimum of $1 million and may be more, depending upon the relative liability exposure of the item.
Confidentiality - As Sea Ray is continually striving to stay ahead of the competition, it is essential that discussions of any nature be held in the strictest confidence. At times, depending on the circumstances, suppliers will be asked to sign a formal confidentiality agreement.
Ethics - All purchasing personnel within the Sea Ray organization, and the suppliers they deal with, are expected to conduct their business in accordance with the 12 “Principles and Standards of Purchasing Practice” as defined by the National Association of Purchasing Management (NAPM).
Supplier Visitation - Sea Ray requests that suppliers meet with corporate purchasing at least quarterly to review the status of the products and services supplied. Additionally, suppliers should plan to visit Sea Ray's plants at least quarterly to confirm that their products are being properly installed in our boats.
Back to top
Purchasing Mission
Corporate Purchasing, in support of the goals and objectives outlined in Sea Ray's Mission Statement, will strive to enhance Sea Ray's position in the marine industry through development of a world-class supplier base that is capable of furnishing a product of superior quality and maximum value.
We will accomplish this through the highest professional standards of business practices and ethics, while promoting partnerships with premier suppliers.
We recognize the critical role of our suppliers in the support of our efforts and, as such, pledge our commitment to:
- Establish collaborative relationships with key suppliers in order to infuse new products, processes and technology to our industry.
- Constantly grow in terms of awareness and knowledge of the marketplace, products and business practices by maintaining open communications with key parties and partaking in appropriate educational opportunities.
- Represent Sea Ray in the highest professional manner while conducting business in an ethical and forthright fashion.
- Manage supplier relationships and assume a proactive role in the procurement cycle, ensuring that Sea Ray receives the highest value products and services at world-class prices.
- Promote the concept of value analysis and encourage our supply base to practice this concept within their organization in order to enhance the value of every purchased product.
- Establish and aggressively pursue, on a continuing basis, PACE goals and objectives in order to lower the cost of quality within the purchasing organization and throughout Sea Ray.
- Produce measurable results favorably impacting Sea Ray's profitability and image.
Back to top
PACE
PACE is the name of our continuous improvement process, which was implemented in the spring of 1991. Thanks to this program, Sea Ray has continued to lower the cost of quality (the cost of doing things over) and improve efficiency, resulting in a higher quality product. Employee participation in PACE means that product and process improvements are no longer the sole domain of engineers and management.
Today, every Sea Ray employee can demonstrate their personal commitment to making a better product by involvement in PACE teams and suggesting improvements through the PACE suggestion process. To date, our employees have made more than 35,000 suggestions, over half of which have been implemented.
And the Best is Yet to Come!
Total involvement is what PACE is all about. From the very beginning, Sea Ray suppliers have been our partners on a winning team. In helping us build a leadership position in our industry, you have become an extremely valuable asset to us, one who is instrumental in our commitment to quality. Because the thousands of parts and materials we use to build a Sea Ray boat is manufactured by someone else, our suppliers' commitment to meet or exceed our quality requirements is essential to the satisfaction of every Sea Ray customer.
As a supplier of goods or services to Sea Ray, your participation in the PACE process is not only encouraged, but expected. We need you to tell us at every opportunity exactly what you think we could do to improve our products or better utilize your products. What you tell us is a vital ingredient in the quality cycle and will help reduce our cost of quality. You can be involved in our PACE process by making suggestions, and you may even be asked to participate on a PACE team.
This level of participation in PACE is rewarding for all of us. When Sea Ray and our suppliers do things right the first time, we build customer loyalty, which translates into market share for Sea Ray and consistently higher utilization of the products provided by quality-conscious suppliers.
So remember, PACE is more than a snappy acronym. It is founded on the belief that motivated people have immense power - the power to solve problems, to eliminate errors and defects, to cut costs and to foster innovations.
Back to top