In today’s fast-changing world of manufacturing, efficiency and visibility are no longer optional—they’re essential. Global supply chain disruptions, reshoring efforts, and a shortage of skilled workers mean manufacturers must find smarter ways to manage operations. At the same time, the new generation of workers expects technology that feels as intuitive as the apps they use every day, like Google Maps or Find My iPhone.
That’s exactly what G3 Boats, a division of Yamaha Motors and a leading recreational watercraft manufacturer, set out to achieve. Their goal: real-time visibility into every step of their production process.
The Challenge: Manual Tracking Creates Bottlenecks
For years, G3 Boats relied on manual processes to track the thousands of boats they produce each year. While functional, this system demanded significant time and resources, often requiring team members to physically walk the production floor just to confirm where a boat was in the build process.
Project Manager Larry Price summed it up:
“There were times when there was no way for someone to learn the status of a boat other than to walk through the production line, paint shop, or yard until they found it.”
This lack of visibility limited efficiency, slowed down workflows, and created costly bottlenecks.
The Solution: RFID-Powered Smart Manufacturing
To solve this, G3 Boats partnered with Zebra Technologies and Xemelgo, who implemented a cutting-edge RFID solution. Instead of barcode scans or manual updates, passive RFID tags now track every boat in real time across the production floor, storage, and distribution network.
The system automatically feeds data into Xemelgo’s Work Order and Inventory Management dashboards, displaying the status of each work order in a “Google Maps” style interface. This allows supervisors and team members to instantly see where boats are, spot delays, and address issues before they become major problems
Rich Rogers, CEO of Xemelgo, explained it best:
“Our system allows workers to focus on their jobs, while Zebra sensors update G3’s business systems on their behalf.”
The Results: Real-Time Visibility, Real Business Impact
- After a successful proof-of-concept, G3 Boats rolled out RFID technology across both of its factories. The results have been transformative:
- Improved Visibility – Every work order can now be tracked in real time, cutting out guesswork.
- Greater Productivity – Automated updates reduce manual data entry, freeing up workers to focus on high-value tasks.
- Optimized Inventory Management – Real-time data enables just-in-time inventory practices and smoother coordination between departments.
- Streamlined Deliveries – Finished boats are sequenced more efficiently, ensuring on-time dealer shipments.
- Enhanced Employee Experience – By reducing manual processes, G3 upholds its culture of respecting and supporting its workforce.
As Larry Price noted:
“Instead of having to ask a dozen different people to figure out the status of an order, we can just check the dashboard and see exactly where the boat is in real time.”
Why It Matters
RFID is more than a tool for visibility—it’s a catalyst for transformation. At Dolphin Data Capture, we know that solutions like these aren’t just about improving efficiency; they’re about building resilience, empowering workers, and helping manufacturers stay competitive in a world where speed and accuracy are everything.
If your factory still relies on manual tracking or outdated systems, now is the time to explore RFID-powered solutions. Like G3 Boats, you can gain real-time visibility, eliminate inefficiencies, and create a smarter, more connected manufacturing environment.
Ready to explore RFID for your business?
Contact Dolphin Data Capture today to discover how we can help your operations achieve “Google Maps” style visibility.