At Ag Leader Technology, there’s a philosophy that there is a direct correlation between precision agriculture and precision manufacturing. The key ideas behind precision agriculture are optimizing inputs and maximizing yields, accurate control of planting, application and harvest operations and then collecting and analyzing data to manage processes to drive improvements.

Stop for a moment and think about manufacturing precision ag equipment. Don’t the same ideas hold true for both? Ag Leader believes that on the manufacturing side, it’s all about optimizing inputs and maximizing yields, accurate control of processes to reduce variability and ensure high quality, and collecting and analyzing data to drive improvements whether that be quality, cost or productivity improvements.

Tim Gaul, Ag Leader quality and continuous improvement manager, says, “Some of our improvements are ‘break-through’ improvements and others we improve on every day. But as we monitor each cell in terms of quality, on a weekly basis we analyze the reasons for defects, attack the issue, dig into the root cause, investigate the problem, and come up with corrective measures.”

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/04/Gaul1.mp3″ text=”Listen to Gaul explain”]

Gaul says, “To get the most out of every acre, out of every input, you have to be precise in what you’re doing and look at every single opportunity to eliminate waste and create value.” That’s why Ag Leader employs LEAN manufacturing, meaning as a company, they understand the process first and then design manufacturing workstations and layout to best fit that process. Ag Leader products aren’t made in big batches – they focus on making high quality, once piece at a time.

So what does that mean to you, the Ag Leader customer?

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/04/Gaul2.mp3″ text=”Listen to Gaul explain”]

Gaul says everyone at Ag Leader understands that they’re a part of feeding the world, and the way they do that is by participating in their processes of precision manufacturing. At Ag Leader, they understand precision.

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