By now we have all heard a lot about global supply chain issues wrought by the pandemic and unprecedented demand for certain products and parts. Regulator Marine has certainly experienced their fair share of supply and demand challenges, having to wait on a number of outside equipment vendors and suppliers to finish rigging and powering their boats. Although most models in their lineup can move from hull layup to final delivery checklist in a month or less, new boat specs are requested up to sixteen weeks in advance due to supply chain constraints. The Yamaha engines are currently forecasted to have a one-year lead time before they are delivered directly from Japan. Seakeeper gyro stabilizers are commonly subject to a wait of up to ten weeks, and some composite and coring materials along with gelcoat colors must be ordered far in advance as well. While Regulator’s values andmission have never wavered, their ability to keep pace with production demand and maintain their high standards has been pressured in many ways. One example is the wiring harnesses that were previously produced by an outside vendor for all Regulator models. Once supply and delivery issues compounded, the factory could not afford to shut down the production line while waiting for these harnesses and looms which essentially serve as the nervous system of the boat and must be installed before the deck and liner are married to each hull. Regulator’s Director of Engineering, David Clubbs, tasked his electrical engineering team with figuring out how to create and configure these critical wiring systems themselves instead of relying on an electrical vendor. This required creating engineering drawings, designing build tables and hiring new team members. Initially, Regulator converted a small space within its Edenton, NC facility for wiring harness fabrication, but as supply issues sustained and the need grew, operations moved to a new larger off-site space nearby. Although this new operation moved offsite, the electrical team is still included in company functions like the weekly update meeting dubbed “Fabulous Fridays.” In addition, Regulator has installed closed-circuit monitors in the new wiring shop, allowing the team to see the same production line information that is displayed at the main 121,000 square foot Regulator factory. This new wiring shop has helped ensure production can be maintained at the brisk pace required to help catch up with the surging demand for Regulator boats. There is currently a long waiting list for many of the company’s models—which means employment and economic development opportunities abound. Joan Maxwell, President of Regulator Marine explains, “We have never seen anything like this, and we are thrilled to see more people discovering the benefits of boat ownership and life on the water. As we HOW REGULATOR MARINE IS OVERCOMING CERTAIN SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES SELF-SUFFICIENT Regulator team members in the new electrical shop 38 BLUEWATER
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