Formula Flex Press
 

Formula Boats is an innovative, family-owned company located in Decatur, Indiana, and is recognized as today’s premier powerboat. Company history attributes this achievement to the constant evolution of forward-thinking product development coupled with manufacturing technologies and methods that focus on continual product improvement throughout the product line.

When the marine industry experienced a marked decrease in demand, Formula set out to increase their market share by discovering new ways to meet the desires of the customer. Formula recognized that as times and technology advance, customers have come to expect flexibility and customization in every aspect of their lives. While many companies cannot handle personalization to meet this changing marketplace, Formula Boats dynamically altered their manufacturing process to address this demand. While Formula offers “standard” options for all their customers, they now also build and cater to individual customer preferences. Only at Formula is it all about choice, individuality and personalization. The new FormulaFlex™ program was developed to allow each customer to make selections, creating their boat just as they envision it. FormulaFlex changes are all available at no cost to the customer, and if something is desired beyond those offerings, FormulaFlex MyWay™ allows for further upgrades.

Formula Boats’ unique approach in gaining market share required a major overhaul of key areas of their production process, including a total revision of production communications, from computer-generated instructions on the production ticket to face-to-face encounters between the point of sale and the shop floor, enhanced by the latest in wireless technology. These innovations have created the production environment and capability to offer personalization on a level other manufacturers simply cannot achieve. With the collaboration of nimble management, an eager sales team and a smart workforce, Formula devised a proprietary method of coding exterior graphic and seating components on its computer-generated production orders, fluidly connecting the desires of the customer with real-time orders to the production floor.

This pre-production effort allows the new boat owner to work with the Formula Sales and Production teams for personalized choices without disrupting production flow or experiencing supply shortages. This ensures a satisfied customer and limits sales change orders, placing the focus on improving efficiency and cutting costs in every arena. An incredible outcome of FormulaFlex has been the increase in communication and overall quality of even standard offerings. As each boat demands increased awareness from all hands, every detail is given the proper attention in a highly efficient, yet easily understood format.

With FormulaFlex, all graphic colors offered are completely interchangeable in every Formula design, and colors swap on hullside graphics with ease. All Formula graphics are painted in house using Axalta™ ChromaPremier® base coat and Imron® Elite Clear Coat utilizing the same techniques as professionally painted show cars. Formula offers more than 25 graphic choices across four boat lines. Each Flagship color, stripe or accent color can be personalized with any combination of the more than 30 colors in the Formula Axalta™ Paint Library. If a color other than those offerings is desired, look no further than FormulaFlex MyWay. With this program, any solid Pantone™ color can be chosen.

MyWay even allows modifying existing design lines where possible. The options are endless. When changing the graphics, altering the upholstery details also becomes an option. Mix and match the offered colors for a completely one-of-a-kind look. Offerings in the cabin are also interchangeable. With a wide range of cabin materials and surfaces, any cabin can be smartly personalized, from bedspread, pillow and drapery fabrics to cabinetry and Corian® offerings.

FormulaFlex MyWay gives additional options to discerning customers regarding their cockpit upholstery and cabin décor. Customers can work with Formula’s upholstery design specialist on custom renderings for their cockpit, even selecting unique color location combinations not typically paired together. Formula has an extensive library of vinyl colors for the customer to select from. MyWay in the cabin allows for approved material upgrades and additional cabin changes through working with MyWay specialists.

The FormulaFlex program now also lets the customer personalize electronics, gauge and helm layout according to their personal preferences. A dash panel specialist will generate a personalized layout for customer approval, which is then cut in-house on CNC routers. FormulaFlex MyWay allows for customers to request special electronics options not regularly offered by Formula, and the Formula electronics engineer works personally with the customer on approved upgrades specific to their boat.

FormulaFlex rewards those with creative imagination and a perceptive eye while MyWay™ upgrades put them further in the designer’s seat.