E 32 Coats’ Ben Pryor Has Embraced Lean Thinking

Continuous improvement, known as “lean” in the manufacturing world, has been a guiding force for Ben Pryor, vice president of commercial for the Coats Co. Earlier in his career at Hennessy Industries (parent company of Coats), Pryor spent four months learning lean principles by going to the “gemba” – a Japanese term that refers to the place where the work is done. Pryor, appearing on “AMN Drivetime” with Bill Babcox, says the four-month lean immersion was “a rich experience” that continues to inform his thinking and decisions. The experience built on his previous exposure to lean while working for a manufacturing business in the St. Louis area earlier in his career.In this “AMN Drivetime” episode, Ben and Bill also talk about:00:36 – Ben’s path to the automotive aftermarket2:14 – People who have influenced Ben the most during his career4:00 – Life-changing, momentous moments in his career8:16 – Process of company rebranding10:38 – Branching into other service categories11:59 – Coats’ shop-productivity software15:18 – How tire equipment likely will evolve17:25 – The Lightning Round! AMN Drivetime is sponsored by AISIN.