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Guest: Shail Khiyara, CEO of SWARM Engineering
Host: Jim Lenz | GEAPS Whole Grain Podcast

What if one of the biggest challenges facing a grain operation isn't a lack of data — but the gap between having information and knowing what to do with it?

Every day, grain professionals make decisions that affect safety, grain quality, throughput, efficiency, and profitability. At the same time, facilities are generating more information, experienced employees are retiring, operations are being asked to do more with less, and technologies such as artificial intelligence are rapidly changing what's possible.

But more technology doesn't automatically lead to better decisions.

In this episode of the GEAPS Whole Grain Podcast, host Jim Lenz talks with Shail Khiyara, CEO of SWARM Engineering, about what happens when artificial intelligence, optimization, operational knowledge, and human decision-making come together.

Rather than focusing on artificial intelligence as technology for technology's sake, the conversation explores a much more practical question:

How can we make better decisions?

Shail shares insights into how organizations can move beyond simply collecting more data and begin using that information to address complex operational challenges. The conversation also examines the growing opportunity to capture and extend the knowledge of experienced employees, evaluate possibilities that may otherwise be difficult to see, and help people make better-informed decisions.

In This Episode

Jim and Shail explore:

• The “decision gap” between having information and knowing what action to take
• Why more data doesn't necessarily create more clarity
• How artificial intelligence can support — rather than replace — human decision-making
• The role of optimization in solving complex operational problems
• The importance of capturing and extending the knowledge of experienced operators
• How organizations can move beyond dashboards and turn information into action
• The potential implications for grain quality, throughput, efficiency, maintenance, safety, and profitability
• Why successful adoption of new technology ultimately needs to connect back to real operational problems and decisions

A Question Worth Taking Back to Your Facility

Artificial intelligence continues to generate enormous attention across nearly every industry. But perhaps the most useful place for grain professionals to begin isn't by asking:

“What can artificial intelligence do?”

Instead, ask:

“What decisions could we make better?”

That question shifts the conversation away from technology itself and toward the people, processes, challenges, and opportunities inside the operation.

And that may be where some of the greatest opportunities begin.

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.

Have questions, feedback, or thoughts on the show? We want to hear from you! Click on this link to send us a text message.

What happens after a railcar leaves your facility?

For most of us, it's easy to think our responsibility ends once the paperwork is complete, the railcar is loaded, and it's released onto the track.

But that's really where the journey begins.

That railcar may travel hundreds of miles across the country, passing through neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and communities before reaching its destination. Every switch that's thrown, every inspection that's performed, every wheel that's checked, and every decision that's made at your facility contributes to the safety of everyone along that route.

It's a responsibility the grain industry carries every single day.

In this episode of the Whole Grain Podcast, host Jim Lenz, Director of Global Education and Training for GEAPS, sits down with two respected railroad professionals from Northern Plains Rail Companies—Steven Fry, Assistant Director of Safety, Training & Operating Practices, and Noel Christensen, Superintendent of Training & Operating Practices. Together, they bring more than seven decades of railroad experience to an engaging conversation about the critical role grain facilities play in rail safety.

Rather than focusing solely on regulations, this discussion explores the why behind rail safety. You'll hear why routine track inspections matter, what effective track protection really means, where facilities most commonly fall short, and how strong operating practices can prevent incidents before they happen.

The conversation also examines how the commodities being shipped can influence regulatory expectations, why understanding railroad operating rules is just as important as knowing your facility's procedures, and how ongoing employee training builds a stronger culture of safety.

Whether you're responsible for operations, maintenance, engineering, safety, environmental compliance, transportation, or facility management, you'll leave this episode with practical ideas you can put to work immediately.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why every railcar leaving your facility carries a responsibility beyond your property
• What effective track inspection should include—and what facilities often overlook
• The purpose and importance of track protection
• Common rail safety risks found during facility inspections
• How different commodities can change regulatory expectations
• Why employee training and operating practices are essential to safe rail operations
• The habits that distinguish high-performing facilities
• Practical "Start, Stop, and Continue" recommendations to strengthen your rail safety program

Rail safety isn't simply about compliance.

It's about protecting employees.

Protecting equipment.

Protecting your operation.

And protecting every community a railcar passes through after it leaves your facility.

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.

Have questions, feedback, or thoughts on the show? We want to hear from you! Click on this link to send us a text message.

What if you could uncover hidden risks, assess facility conditions more accurately, and make smarter maintenance decisions—without disrupting operations?

In an industry where safety, reliability, and uptime are critical, understanding the true condition of your facility can be challenging. Many grain facilities contain hard-to-access areas, aging infrastructure, and hidden structural conditions that are difficult to evaluate through traditional inspection methods alone. Yet waiting until problems become visible can lead to increased repair costs, unplanned downtime, and greater operational risk.

In this episode of the Whole Grain Podcast, host Jim Lenz, Director of Global Education and Training for the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS), sits down with Hayes Guillot, Inspection and Technology Specialist with Custom Concrete Specialists, to explore how modern inspection technologies are transforming the way grain facilities evaluate, maintain, and protect their assets.

Drawing on his background in precision agriculture, drone technology, and facility inspections, Hayes explains how today's tools are providing facility owners and operators with unprecedented visibility into the condition of their structures. From interior and exterior drone inspections to ground penetrating radar (GPR), thermal imaging, and LiDAR technology, these solutions allow organizations to safely inspect areas that were once difficult, time-consuming, or costly to assess.

Throughout the conversation, Hayes shares how technology is helping facilities identify potential issues earlier, reduce the need for confined-space entry, improve documentation, support data-driven decision-making, and establish a proactive approach to maintenance and capital planning. He also discusses how detailed reports, high-resolution imagery, video documentation, and advanced scanning technologies are helping maintenance teams, managers, engineers, and boards make more informed decisions with greater confidence.

Whether you're responsible for operations, maintenance, engineering, safety, asset management, or strategic planning, this episode offers practical insights into how modern inspection technology is helping organizations move beyond reactive repairs and toward a safer, smarter, and more proactive future.

Important Links

Custom Concrete Specialists
https://www.ccsgrouponline.com/

Previous Whole Grain Podcast Episode Featuring Cheyenne Wohlford, CEO & President of Custom Concrete Specialists
Innovations in Grain Silo Maintenance: Drone Inspection Services
https://www.geaps.com/news-publications/whole-grain-podcast/innovations-in-grain-silo-maintenance-drone-inspection-services-2/

GEAPS Website
https://www.geaps.com/

GEAPS Credentialing Program
https://www.geaps.com/training-education/credentials/

Whole Grain Podcast
https://www.geaps.com/wholegrain

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.