We Are Ag Leader: Scott Wilcox, Vice President of Manufacturing
At Ag Leader, we value quality. Guided by our four core values – Excellence, Approachability, Ready-Willing-Doing, and the Courage to do What is Right, each of our departments strive to produce products they are proud to stand behind, never compromising on quality. Because we operate in a culture of continuous improvement, our product failure rate is less than 1.5%. While we are proud of that achievement, it also drives us to improve that number each day.
That commitment to quality also extends to the people we hire. As a part of the Ag Leader family, our employees value ethics, relationships, trust, and integrity while thriving in an atmosphere that is not only innovative and welcoming but encourages ideas and creativity.
Meet Scott Wilcox
Growing up in a small community in east central Iowa, Scott Wilcox’s career path was deeply influenced by his family’s business. Started by his grandfather Wayne when he was 16, Wilcox Equipment began as a welding shop. In the mid-90s, Scott’s father, Craig, joined the company as it continued to grow becoming a Bobcat dealer and carrier of various short line agricultural products.
“The hands-on experience at my father’s business sparked a passion for understanding how things work and how they are made. This led me to pursue a degree in agricultural engineering at Iowa State University,” Scott says, adding that his father continues to operate the business today.
Today, he serves as Ag Leader’s Vice President of Manufacturing. In this role, Scott is responsible for ensuring Ag Leader consistently produces high-quality products for customers while maintaining a motivated and engaged workforce.
AL: Tell us more about your background in agriculture.
SW: My grandparents’ farm, which sold in 2019, is adjacent to Wilcox Equipment. I have some cherished memories of spending time with my grandfather and helping him during harvest. While I am not actively farming, those experiences left a lasting impression!
AL: How long have you been with Ag Leader?
SW: I have been at Ag Leader since January 2022. Before joining Ag Leader, I worked as Senior VP of Operations at Henderson Products. Henderson builds snow and ice control equipment as well as upfits complete snow trucks.
Prior to Henderson, I worked at John Deere for 17 years in various roles in manufacturing engineering, operations, design engineering, and supply management.
AL: What do you like most about working at Ag Leader?
SW: Within Ag Leader, there is a strong sense of connection and commitment to the company’s values and mission. Al Myers’ dedication to creating a great workplace environment at Ag Leader reflects a commitment to employees’ well-being and satisfaction. Secondly, there is tremendous support for innovation, empowerment of employees, and continuous improvement.
AL: How do you ensure quality each day in your role?
SW: In April 2022, we began performing daily Gemba walks to focus on collaboration and customer needs. Gemba walks involve going to the actual location where work is done to observe processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and engage with employees. Within these walks, we have incorporated Managing for Daily Improvement (MDI) boards. These MDI boards provide a visual management tool for tracking key metrics, highlighting improvement opportunities, and fostering collaboration among team members. This is performed every morning, and we have seen a very positive impact to our quality and delivery performance.
Pictured from L to R: Ethan (17), Tami, Scott, Isaac (19), Owen (14), and Emmett (6).
AL: In your time at Ag Leader, can you share an achievement or experience you are most proud of and why?
SW: Seeing the commitment and engagement of our team to the daily Gemba walks! We have identified many issues and implemented over 1,000 solutions to problems since starting the process. I have confidence that if I were to “kick the bucket”, the process would continue.
AL: If there was one thing you want farmers to know about Ag Leader and the products we create, what would it be?
SW: Being the only truly independent aftermarket solutions provider is a significant distinction. It means Ag Leader operates free from external influences, allowing it to focus solely on delivering the best possible solutions for farmers.
AL: What do you like to do in your free time?
SW: I have four boys ages 6 to 19, so free time is a little tough to come by. My family and I like to travel. Personally, I enjoy playing golf, participating in one or two sprint triathlons each year, and trail riding on UTVs. Unfortunately, due to a lack of time, I think it’s time to sell the UTV. •
ABOUT THIS SERIES
In the We Are Ag Leader series, we will introduce you to a wide array of people who work at Ag Leader. Our founder, Al Myers, created Ag Leader in 1992 with one mission in mind: To provide a workplace that challenges and motivates individuals to create and deliver innovative products.
Ultimately, addressing the wants and needs of farmers is our number one priority. We exist to enhance the lives of farmers around the world by developing proven precision farming technology that exceeds farmers’ expectations. •