December 22, 2025 • 18 mins
In this episode of the Whole Grain Podcast, host Jim Lenz, Director of Global Education and Training at GEAPS, talks with Kyle Dixon, Vice President of Sales at IBT Industrial Solutions, about how grain facilities can do more with less—while improving reliability, uptime, and long-term value.
Kyle brings a rare perspective, having served as an IBT sales rep, regional manager, and now VP of Sales. He shares practical insights on proactive maintenance, simplifying storerooms, using technology wisely, and supporting a changing workforce. The focus is on real-world solutions grain professionals can apply immediately.
Key Takeaways (Condensed)
- Doing more with less means maximizing capability—not cutting corners
- Proactive maintenance reduces downtime and risk
- Simple changes can deliver big operational wins
- Technology works best alongside hands-on observation
- Education and supplier partnerships strengthen today’s workforce
- Suppliers can act as an extension of customer teams
Featured Partner
IBT Industrial Solutions is a GEAPS Premier Partner supporting grain operations with engineering expertise and responsive MRO solutions.
- IBT Industrial Solutions: https://www.ibtinc.com/
- IBT Grain Industry Solutions: https://www.ibtinc.com/industries/grain/
Past Whole Grain Podcast Episodes Featuring IBT Guests
- Keeping Grain Moving: Preventative Maintenance and Supplier Tips
- Everything from Conveyor Belting to Buckets with a 30-Year Grain Pro
- Pillars of the Grain Industry
GEAPS Education & Events
- GEAPS Conveyor Training (Hands-On Programs):
- GEAPS Online Learning:
- GEAPS Exchange:
Grain Elevator and Processing Society champions, connects and serves the global grain industry and its members. Be sure to visit GEAPS’ website to learn how you can grow your network, support your personal professional development, and advance your career. Thank you for listening to another episode of GEAPS’ Whole Grain podcast.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (01:55):
Across the grain industry, facility
managers and operations teamsare being asked to do more than
ever, with fewer people, tighterbudgets, aging, and higher
expectations for safety anduptime.
So, how do you actually do morewith less without cutting
corners, burning out your team,or gambling with reliability?
(02:15):
In today's episode of the WholeGrain Podcast, we explore what
it really means to create realvalue in real time, not just by
fixing problems when theyhappen, but by preventing them
before they start.
My guest is Kyle Dixon, VicePresident of Sales and IBT
Industrial Solutions.
Kyle brings a rare 360-degreeperspective to this conversation
over his career at IBT, worksdirectly with brain customers as
(02:39):
a sales representative, ledteams as a regional manager, and
now partners with leadershipteams to the strategic level SVP
sales.
That means these team grainoperations for the floor, the
store room, and the board room,and the understanding for small
changes to our planning andcollective maintenance and
deliver outsides results.
From maximizing testingequipment and reducing downtime
(03:00):
to simplify storm rooms,covering technology might be 40
workforce, this conversation ispacked with practical insights
that brain professionals usedright away.
Stay tuned.
Hello and welcome to the show.
Welcome to the Full GreenPodcast, where we explore the
(03:21):
people of innovation and friendsand green industry.
My name is Jim Lenz, your hostand director of Global Education
and Training at GEAPS, whereour mission of the Grain
Elevator Processing Society isto champion, connect, and serve
the global grain industry andour members.
(03:41):
Today we're talking about howgrain facilities can do more
with less.
By working smarter, extendingequipment life, reducing risk,
and creating value in real time.
And there's no better person toexplore that with than Kyle
Dixon from IBT IndustrialSolutions.
IBT is the cheapest premierpartner.
If you and your organizationwould like to learn more about
our partner program, pleasevisit just like recently.
(04:06):
All that and more coming upnext.
Alright, today we are going totalk about a challenge every
(04:26):
grain facility faces, how to domore with less, and how to
create real value in real timewith solutions that don't just
fix problems but actuallyprevent them.
Joining us is someone who seesit every single day from the
front lines.
His name is Kyle Dixon, VicePresident of Sales at IBT
Industrial Solutions.
Kyle, welcome to the show.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industrial (04:47):
Hey, thanks, Jim.
I appreciate the invitation.
Excited to dig into the topicwith you today.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (04:52):
Kyle, before we get into the big
topics today, give our listenersa bit of your background.
What path brought you into theworld of industrial and grain
solutions?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industrial (05:02):
Yes, specifically industrial with
IBT.
I've been with IBT for over 30years in a multitude of
different positions.
However, I did grow up in theagricultural market.
I grew up on a uh small farmout in uh south central Kansas,
fourth generation calvingoperation with a wheat farm
south of Wichita.
So I've been involved inagriculture in one way or
(05:22):
another since I was about twoyears old.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (05:24):
Oh, great.
I did not know that about you.
And for those who may be new toIBT Industrial Solutions, I
know if anybody has beenattending the exchange trade
show floor, uh, Expo Hall forthe last years.
For example, it's been inKansas City.
You cannot go in Expo Hallwithout seeing all the great
people and find things you offerat IBT Industrial Solutions
(05:46):
booth.
More than a booth, isn't it?
Yeah, well, but we've made it abooth on steroids, Jim.
There you go.
Uh, but uh, if they did notknow about IBT Industrial
Solutions, tell people aboutwhat products and services you
offer.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industrial (06:00):
IBT focuses on the MRO industry,
and we play a critical role ingrain space.
We support the full life cycleof grain handling and the
processing of operations.
Our focus really revolvesaround uh solutions and helping
our customers move, store,process different grain
capacities safely, efficiently,and most of all profitably.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (06:22):
Good overview of what you do uh for
your organization and what yourorganization does for the grain
industry.
Now, the phrase do more withless gets thrown around a lot.
You hear it in budgeting andoperations and safety pretty
much everywhere.
But in your world, Kyle, whatdoes that actually mean on the
ground in a grain elevator orprocessing plant?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (06:43):
Well, do more with less is really
just another way of sayingmaximize your capabilities.
And it doesn't just apply tothe grain industry, it applies
to uh industry across everythingtoday.
And in fact, uh you're in myhome spaces as well, most
likely, but organizations areexpected to deliver a higher
output or at least at aconsistent production level with
(07:06):
fewer resources, whether thatbe people, uh aging equipment,
or even support.
Facility managers today carrymore of a responsibility than in
years of the past.
In my world, doing more withless means getting more
production out of existingequipment and keeping it running
longer and more efficiently.
So facility managers can stayfocused on their running their
(07:27):
business and not fighting theirday-to-day operation issues.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (07:31):
So it's not about cutting corners, it's
more about smarter processes,better planning, and sometimes
even small changes that make ahuge difference?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (07:40):
Yeah, absolutely.
It's it's cutting corners isn'tthe goal at all.
It's quite the opposite.
What we're really focused on isextending the life of equipment
and reducing downtime in asmart, efficient ways so
facilities can operate morereliably and have fewer
disruptions to their operations.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (07:58):
Your team at IBT talks a lot about
creating real value in realtime.
That sounds powerful and veryneeded, but what does that look
like in practice?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (08:08):
Yeah, Jim, we just came through a
really busy fall harvest.
Everybody's aware of havingmuch success centers around
having the right product in theright place and the ability to
respond with same-day servicefor critical MRO emergency
needs, keep running.
But the support goes wellbeyond reactive responses.
(08:29):
A key part of our approach ishelping facilities to move
forward or at least towardproactive maintenance programs
such as conveyor belt surveys.
When our team is able to helpsomeone uh survey a facility, we
can provide a facility managerwith actionable data that allows
them to plan downtime, replaceconveyor belts outside of the
(08:49):
harvest season, and ensure theirsystems are running in a
maximum capacity when they needthem most.
That's how we help customers,you know, reduce risk, minimize
downtime, and stay ready for thepeak time demand.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (09:02):
I like that because a lot of grain
facilities don't have extrastaff.
When something breaks, theydon't have the luxury of waiting
three days, for example, for asolution or guessing whether
something is going to last.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industrial (09:15):
Oh, you're absolutely right.
Uptime is everything, and theability to respond quickly with
the right fix is where the realvalue starts.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (09:22):
Let's talk about the real-world stuff
you see, the headaches, theinefficiencies, the silent
killers that cost time andmoney.
What are the biggest problemareas you run into again and
again?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (09:35):
Yeah, some of the things we see, uh a
lot of the handling equipmentbottlenecks stem from different
inefficiencies in productionflow, some of which can be
traced down to just human errorin general.
Things that are simply justaren't inspected routinely or
aren't installed correctly.
A good example would be overtightening of bucket elevator
bolts, which can lead topremature damage of belting.
(09:58):
At the same time, the workforcewithin MRO marketing is
changing with a significantnumber of experienced employees
retiring.
We're all on the receiving endof this, but the education and
training have become more andmore important than ever.
Helping teams understand properinstallation, inspection,
maintenance practices.
This is all critical to keepingthe downtime low and protecting
(10:20):
equipment and just having amaintaining consistent
performance in your equipment.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (10:26):
Makes sense.
I imagine many of those arepreventable with just a bit of
proactive attention.
Absolutely.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industr (10:32):
They're small, inexpensive steps that
can save facilities thousands ofdollars and hours of downtime.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (10:39):
Now there's so much new technology
being marketed to grainfacilities, sensors, apps,
monitoring tools, analytics.
But from your perspective, whattools or innovations are truly
making a difference right now?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (10:54):
Yeah, right now we're seeing a lot of
barge sensors.
They're really starting to gainreal traction in the field.
They're making a meaningfulimpact on improving safety and
helping facilities bettercontrol their capacity prior to
shipping.
We're also seeing facilitiessuccessfully use bend level
conveyor misalignment andtemperature sensors.
(11:14):
They can monitor those systemsfrom a PC or even their phone,
which can have a majoroperational impact.
That also being said, I'mpretty old-fashioned.
The fact that I'll always saythere's no complete substitute
for a daily walkthrough.
Technology is a powerful tool,but combining it with hands-on
observation is what truly drivessafe, reliable, and really some
(11:37):
efficient operations.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (11:38):
I like the way you think about that.
Don't chase tech for tech'ssake.
Focus on what solves yourproblem today and gives you
better decisions tomorrow.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industri (11:48):
That's exactly right.
Practical technology wins everytime, man.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (11:52):
People love real-world stories because
they vividly show what works.
Can you share an example wherea facility really did more with
less, where a solution changedoutcomes quickly?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (12:04):
Yeah, I can think of a couple of
recent examples.
We worked with one specificcustomer experience and some
belting issues on a conveyor.
Specifically, the belt waspeeling off.
Our team was able to come onsite, diagnose the root cause of
the issue, help resolve it.
And what that did is iteliminated the customer from
both downtime and money.
(12:24):
He didn't have to hire amillwrite, he didn't have to
bring in and replace the entiresystem.
We were able to solve theproblem there.
Some other larger scalesystems, we had another
situation where somebody wantedto replace a three-row bucket
elevator system.
After evaluating theapplication, we were able to
redesign it with a two-rowbucket system utilizing larger
(12:45):
buckets.
It's not only increased theoverall capacity, but it also
reduced the number ofreplacement parts.
You don't have to stock as manyparts in the storeroom, and
it's more consistent andstandardized across the
facilities tool crib.
So this demonstrated alonger-term energy savings as
well for the customer.
And these are great examples ofuh how IBT partners with our
(13:06):
customers to deliver practical,cost-effective solutions that
improving performance for andreliability for that matter.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (13:13):
That's fantastic.
And those stories happenbecause people are open to new
approaches, right?
I mean, they're willing tothink differently.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industrial (13:22):
The best facilities treat every
issue as a learning opportunity,Jim.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (13:27):
I like that.
One of the biggest concerns wehear across the industry is
staffing.
Newer employees, lessexperienced, smaller teams.
It's a real issue facingorganizations.
How is IBT helping facilitiessupport new workers and build
stronger capabilities?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (13:44):
Well, IBT goes beyond products.
We act as a true operationalpartner.
We provide hands-on support,application expertise.
We try to offer practicalsolutions that help new
employees get up to speed fasterwhile reinforcing some of the
better practices that we seefrom facility to facility across
different operations.
(14:05):
We really strive to have afantastic training program.
And through training andon-site support, we can help
people standardize solutions andhave reliable service.
We help reduce knowledge gaps,improve safety, and create
consistency so facilities canmaintain performance even as
workflow experience levelschange.
(14:27):
Ultimately, we help customersbuild confidence in their teams
and resilience in theiroperations.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (14:34):
That sounds like not a transactional
relationship, more of atransformational relationship.
It sounds like the relationshipbetween suppliers and
facilities is evolving.
You aren't just selling parts,you're extending their
workforce, aren't you?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industri (14:48):
That's absolutely correct.
IBT is not successful unlessour customers are successful.
I encourage our customers toconsider us as an extension of
their own workforce.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (14:58):
Hey, let's look ahead at the next
three to five years.
I I know that the grainindustry is very dynamic,
evolving.
Other industries are well, butfor this industry and the grain
industry, if you look ahead afew years, what excites you?
I mean, what trends orimprovements should grain
operations be preparing for now?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (15:15):
Yeah, the grain industry is pretty
resilient.
They fill a need and willcontinue to do so year after
year.
The new facilities are going upthat are bigger and faster and
more automated with extremelyefficient handling equipment.
Very excited about the abilityto maintain and the ease of
maintaining some of those newfacilities.
(15:37):
From a trend standpoint, ourindustry needs to become younger
with many experiencedprofessionals retiring it.
It's critical in thismarketplace for the next
generation to understand thatthe grain industry offers the
opportunity to build a strong,rewarding career through proper
training.
It does take some hands-onexperience, but it it could be
(15:59):
very rewarding.
Uh investing in people, uh,education, mentorship is huge,
and practical learning, uh,that'll be the key to sustaining
the industry's success movingforward, in my opinion.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (16:12):
Well, it's an exciting time,
challenging, but certainly fullof opportunity.
Before we wrap up, I'd love tohear your one big piece of
advice.
I I know you offered a lot ofgreat pieces of advice here, but
uh if a grain facility leaderwants to start doing more with
less tomorrow morning, what'sthe first step?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (16:33):
Yeah, let's keep it simple.
Give your local IBTrepresentative a call and start
having a conversation about yourbiggest challenge and pain
points.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (16:41):
That's fantastic.
We certainly will keep thatinformation available and the
link to your website in the shownotes.
So check that out, listeners.
Kyle, this has been fantastic.
Thank you for sharing yourinsights and for the work you
and your team do to supportgrain professionals across the
industry.
For our listeners, if you'dlike to learn more about IBT
industrial solutions, we'llinclude again links and show
(17:04):
notes.
And of course, you can alwaysexplore more education resources
and training for GEAPS.
Kyle, thanks again for joiningus on the Jeeps Whole Grain
podcast.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industr (17:13):
Thanks, Jim.
It's great being here.
Across the grain industry, facility
managers and operations teamsare being asked to do more than
ever, with fewer people, tighterbudgets, aging, and higher
expectations for safety anduptime.
So, how do you actually do morewith less without cutting
corners, burning out your team,or gambling with reliability?
(02:15):
In today's episode of the WholeGrain Podcast, we explore what
it really means to create realvalue in real time, not just by
fixing problems when theyhappen, but by preventing them
before they start.
My guest is Kyle Dixon, VicePresident of Sales and IBT
Industrial Solutions.
Kyle brings a rare 360-degreeperspective to this conversation
over his career at IBT, worksdirectly with brain customers as
(02:39):
a sales representative, ledteams as a regional manager, and
now partners with leadershipteams to the strategic level SVP
sales.
That means these team grainoperations for the floor, the
store room, and the board room,and the understanding for small
changes to our planning andcollective maintenance and
deliver outsides results.
From maximizing testingequipment and reducing downtime
(03:00):
to simplify storm rooms,covering technology might be 40
workforce, this conversation ispacked with practical insights
that brain professionals usedright away.
Stay tuned.
Hello and welcome to the show.
Welcome to the Full GreenPodcast, where we explore the
(03:21):
people of innovation and friendsand green industry.
My name is Jim Lenz, your hostand director of Global Education
and Training at GEAPS, whereour mission of the Grain
Elevator Processing Society isto champion, connect, and serve
the global grain industry andour members.
(03:41):
Today we're talking about howgrain facilities can do more
with less.
By working smarter, extendingequipment life, reducing risk,
and creating value in real time.
And there's no better person toexplore that with than Kyle
Dixon from IBT IndustrialSolutions.
IBT is the cheapest premierpartner.
If you and your organizationwould like to learn more about
our partner program, pleasevisit just like recently.
(04:06):
All that and more coming upnext.
Alright, today we are going totalk about a challenge every
(04:26):
grain facility faces, how to domore with less, and how to
create real value in real timewith solutions that don't just
fix problems but actuallyprevent them.
Joining us is someone who seesit every single day from the
front lines.
His name is Kyle Dixon, VicePresident of Sales at IBT
Industrial Solutions.
Kyle, welcome to the show.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industrial (04:47):
Hey, thanks, Jim.
I appreciate the invitation.
Excited to dig into the topicwith you today.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (04:52):
Kyle, before we get into the big
topics today, give our listenersa bit of your background.
What path brought you into theworld of industrial and grain
solutions?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industrial (05:02):
Yes, specifically industrial with
IBT.
I've been with IBT for over 30years in a multitude of
different positions.
However, I did grow up in theagricultural market.
I grew up on a uh small farmout in uh south central Kansas,
fourth generation calvingoperation with a wheat farm
south of Wichita.
So I've been involved inagriculture in one way or
(05:22):
another since I was about twoyears old.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (05:24):
Oh, great.
I did not know that about you.
And for those who may be new toIBT Industrial Solutions, I
know if anybody has beenattending the exchange trade
show floor, uh, Expo Hall forthe last years.
For example, it's been inKansas City.
You cannot go in Expo Hallwithout seeing all the great
people and find things you offerat IBT Industrial Solutions
(05:46):
booth.
More than a booth, isn't it?
Yeah, well, but we've made it abooth on steroids, Jim.
There you go.
Uh, but uh, if they did notknow about IBT Industrial
Solutions, tell people aboutwhat products and services you
offer.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industrial (06:00):
IBT focuses on the MRO industry,
and we play a critical role ingrain space.
We support the full life cycleof grain handling and the
processing of operations.
Our focus really revolvesaround uh solutions and helping
our customers move, store,process different grain
capacities safely, efficiently,and most of all profitably.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (06:22):
Good overview of what you do uh for
your organization and what yourorganization does for the grain
industry.
Now, the phrase do more withless gets thrown around a lot.
You hear it in budgeting andoperations and safety pretty
much everywhere.
But in your world, Kyle, whatdoes that actually mean on the
ground in a grain elevator orprocessing plant?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (06:43):
Well, do more with less is really
just another way of sayingmaximize your capabilities.
And it doesn't just apply tothe grain industry, it applies
to uh industry across everythingtoday.
And in fact, uh you're in myhome spaces as well, most
likely, but organizations areexpected to deliver a higher
output or at least at aconsistent production level with
(07:06):
fewer resources, whether thatbe people, uh aging equipment,
or even support.
Facility managers today carrymore of a responsibility than in
years of the past.
In my world, doing more withless means getting more
production out of existingequipment and keeping it running
longer and more efficiently.
So facility managers can stayfocused on their running their
(07:27):
business and not fighting theirday-to-day operation issues.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (07:31):
So it's not about cutting corners, it's
more about smarter processes,better planning, and sometimes
even small changes that make ahuge difference?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (07:40):
Yeah, absolutely.
It's it's cutting corners isn'tthe goal at all.
It's quite the opposite.
What we're really focused on isextending the life of equipment
and reducing downtime in asmart, efficient ways so
facilities can operate morereliably and have fewer
disruptions to their operations.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (07:58):
Your team at IBT talks a lot about
creating real value in realtime.
That sounds powerful and veryneeded, but what does that look
like in practice?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (08:08):
Yeah, Jim, we just came through a
really busy fall harvest.
Everybody's aware of havingmuch success centers around
having the right product in theright place and the ability to
respond with same-day servicefor critical MRO emergency
needs, keep running.
But the support goes wellbeyond reactive responses.
(08:29):
A key part of our approach ishelping facilities to move
forward or at least towardproactive maintenance programs
such as conveyor belt surveys.
When our team is able to helpsomeone uh survey a facility, we
can provide a facility managerwith actionable data that allows
them to plan downtime, replaceconveyor belts outside of the
(08:49):
harvest season, and ensure theirsystems are running in a
maximum capacity when they needthem most.
That's how we help customers,you know, reduce risk, minimize
downtime, and stay ready for thepeak time demand.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (09:02):
I like that because a lot of grain
facilities don't have extrastaff.
When something breaks, theydon't have the luxury of waiting
three days, for example, for asolution or guessing whether
something is going to last.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industrial (09:15):
Oh, you're absolutely right.
Uptime is everything, and theability to respond quickly with
the right fix is where the realvalue starts.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (09:22):
Let's talk about the real-world stuff
you see, the headaches, theinefficiencies, the silent
killers that cost time andmoney.
What are the biggest problemareas you run into again and
again?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (09:35):
Yeah, some of the things we see, uh a
lot of the handling equipmentbottlenecks stem from different
inefficiencies in productionflow, some of which can be
traced down to just human errorin general.
Things that are simply justaren't inspected routinely or
aren't installed correctly.
A good example would be overtightening of bucket elevator
bolts, which can lead topremature damage of belting.
(09:58):
At the same time, the workforcewithin MRO marketing is
changing with a significantnumber of experienced employees
retiring.
We're all on the receiving endof this, but the education and
training have become more andmore important than ever.
Helping teams understand properinstallation, inspection,
maintenance practices.
This is all critical to keepingthe downtime low and protecting
(10:20):
equipment and just having amaintaining consistent
performance in your equipment.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (10:26):
Makes sense.
I imagine many of those arepreventable with just a bit of
proactive attention.
Absolutely.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industr (10:32):
They're small, inexpensive steps that
can save facilities thousands ofdollars and hours of downtime.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (10:39):
Now there's so much new technology
being marketed to grainfacilities, sensors, apps,
monitoring tools, analytics.
But from your perspective, whattools or innovations are truly
making a difference right now?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (10:54):
Yeah, right now we're seeing a lot of
barge sensors.
They're really starting to gainreal traction in the field.
They're making a meaningfulimpact on improving safety and
helping facilities bettercontrol their capacity prior to
shipping.
We're also seeing facilitiessuccessfully use bend level
conveyor misalignment andtemperature sensors.
(11:14):
They can monitor those systemsfrom a PC or even their phone,
which can have a majoroperational impact.
That also being said, I'mpretty old-fashioned.
The fact that I'll always saythere's no complete substitute
for a daily walkthrough.
Technology is a powerful tool,but combining it with hands-on
observation is what truly drivessafe, reliable, and really some
(11:37):
efficient operations.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (11:38):
I like the way you think about that.
Don't chase tech for tech'ssake.
Focus on what solves yourproblem today and gives you
better decisions tomorrow.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industri (11:48):
That's exactly right.
Practical technology wins everytime, man.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (11:52):
People love real-world stories because
they vividly show what works.
Can you share an example wherea facility really did more with
less, where a solution changedoutcomes quickly?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (12:04):
Yeah, I can think of a couple of
recent examples.
We worked with one specificcustomer experience and some
belting issues on a conveyor.
Specifically, the belt waspeeling off.
Our team was able to come onsite, diagnose the root cause of
the issue, help resolve it.
And what that did is iteliminated the customer from
both downtime and money.
(12:24):
He didn't have to hire amillwrite, he didn't have to
bring in and replace the entiresystem.
We were able to solve theproblem there.
Some other larger scalesystems, we had another
situation where somebody wantedto replace a three-row bucket
elevator system.
After evaluating theapplication, we were able to
redesign it with a two-rowbucket system utilizing larger
(12:45):
buckets.
It's not only increased theoverall capacity, but it also
reduced the number ofreplacement parts.
You don't have to stock as manyparts in the storeroom, and
it's more consistent andstandardized across the
facilities tool crib.
So this demonstrated alonger-term energy savings as
well for the customer.
And these are great examples ofuh how IBT partners with our
(13:06):
customers to deliver practical,cost-effective solutions that
improving performance for andreliability for that matter.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (13:13):
That's fantastic.
And those stories happenbecause people are open to new
approaches, right?
I mean, they're willing tothink differently.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industrial (13:22):
The best facilities treat every
issue as a learning opportunity,Jim.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (13:27):
I like that.
One of the biggest concerns wehear across the industry is
staffing.
Newer employees, lessexperienced, smaller teams.
It's a real issue facingorganizations.
How is IBT helping facilitiessupport new workers and build
stronger capabilities?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (13:44):
Well, IBT goes beyond products.
We act as a true operationalpartner.
We provide hands-on support,application expertise.
We try to offer practicalsolutions that help new
employees get up to speed fasterwhile reinforcing some of the
better practices that we seefrom facility to facility across
different operations.
(14:05):
We really strive to have afantastic training program.
And through training andon-site support, we can help
people standardize solutions andhave reliable service.
We help reduce knowledge gaps,improve safety, and create
consistency so facilities canmaintain performance even as
workflow experience levelschange.
(14:27):
Ultimately, we help customersbuild confidence in their teams
and resilience in theiroperations.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (14:34):
That sounds like not a transactional
relationship, more of atransformational relationship.
It sounds like the relationshipbetween suppliers and
facilities is evolving.
You aren't just selling parts,you're extending their
workforce, aren't you?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industri (14:48):
That's absolutely correct.
IBT is not successful unlessour customers are successful.
I encourage our customers toconsider us as an extension of
their own workforce.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (14:58):
Hey, let's look ahead at the next
three to five years.
I I know that the grainindustry is very dynamic,
evolving.
Other industries are well, butfor this industry and the grain
industry, if you look ahead afew years, what excites you?
I mean, what trends orimprovements should grain
operations be preparing for now?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (15:15):
Yeah, the grain industry is pretty
resilient.
They fill a need and willcontinue to do so year after
year.
The new facilities are going upthat are bigger and faster and
more automated with extremelyefficient handling equipment.
Very excited about the abilityto maintain and the ease of
maintaining some of those newfacilities.
(15:37):
From a trend standpoint, ourindustry needs to become younger
with many experiencedprofessionals retiring it.
It's critical in thismarketplace for the next
generation to understand thatthe grain industry offers the
opportunity to build a strong,rewarding career through proper
training.
It does take some hands-onexperience, but it it could be
(15:59):
very rewarding.
Uh investing in people, uh,education, mentorship is huge,
and practical learning, uh,that'll be the key to sustaining
the industry's success movingforward, in my opinion.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (16:12):
Well, it's an exciting time,
challenging, but certainly fullof opportunity.
Before we wrap up, I'd love tohear your one big piece of
advice.
I I know you offered a lot ofgreat pieces of advice here, but
uh if a grain facility leaderwants to start doing more with
less tomorrow morning, what'sthe first step?
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industria (16:33):
Yeah, let's keep it simple.
Give your local IBTrepresentative a call and start
having a conversation about yourbiggest challenge and pain
points.
Jim Lenz, GEAPS (Host) (16:41):
That's fantastic.
We certainly will keep thatinformation available and the
link to your website in the shownotes.
So check that out, listeners.
Kyle, this has been fantastic.
Thank you for sharing yourinsights and for the work you
and your team do to supportgrain professionals across the
industry.
For our listeners, if you'dlike to learn more about IBT
industrial solutions, we'llinclude again links and show
(17:04):
notes.
And of course, you can alwaysexplore more education resources
and training for GEAPS.
Kyle, thanks again for joiningus on the Jeeps Whole Grain
podcast.
Kyle Dixon, IBT Industr (17:13):
Thanks, Jim.
It's great being here.
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