Robert Rodriguez on Field-Ready Machines, Customer-Focused Ops, and Why Durability Matters
I spent 22 years in the Army, where reliability and precision weren’t just goals – they were requirements. Now, as Operations Manager at Stout, I bring that same mindset and commitment into agriculture. After retiring from the Army, I earned degrees in Ag Business and quickly saw the impact AI and robotics were starting to have on farming. Once I got hands-on experience with the Stout Smart Cultivator, I knew I had found my next mission.
Every morning, I start by opening the shop, reviewing work orders, and making sure our schedule reflects the priorities that matter most: uptime and performance. My role is about being ready to pivot – whether that means retrofitting machines, responding to field calls, or helping troubleshoot issues firsthand.
Before any Smart Cultivator leaves our facility, we put it through a detailed testing process. We’ve built these checklists from years of field experience – every actuator, every wire, every system is tested. We log 6 to 10 hours of run time per machine, and if something isn’t right, it doesn’t ship. Period.
One of the things I’m proudest of is how we build based on feedback from growers. Our SPH (Smart Powered Hydraulics) system came directly from conversations in the field. I worked with R&D and engineering to move it through our ECO process – from idea to implementation. That’s what makes Stout different: we listen, and we act.
I spend 40 to 60% of my time in the field. You can’t fully understand an issue until you see it yourself: the soil, the weather, the crew dynamics. I talk with operators, watch their workflows, and think critically about how we can make our machines better. Our reliability starts with those real conversations.
We’ve built out support systems that go far beyond a manual. From teardown videos to bilingual training resources to live video calls, we’re committed to making sure operators (not just managers) know how to run, maintain, and optimize their machines.
As Stout evolves into a data-driven company, our operations have evolved too. We now preload computers, install vision systems, and fully program each machine before it ships. We don’t wait for things to break; we’re always improving, always checking in, always looking for ways to add value during maintenance.
To me, reliability means building machines that hold up in any field condition: hard soil, wet rows, heat, cold, you name it. That’s where I focus. Because in this business, durability isn’t just nice to have, it’s everything.
About Robert Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez is the Operations Manager at Stout Industrial Technology, where he brings more than two decades of military maintenance experience to the cutting edge of agricultural innovation. After earning a degree in Agriculture Business, he transitioned into ag tech, inspired by the transformative potential of robotics and AI in the field. Known for his field-first mindset, Robert is deeply committed to machine uptime, operational precision, and long-term customer success. Whether he’s leading operations or working directly with growers, Robert ensures every machine meets the highest standard of performance. Outside of work, he enjoys boating, fishing, and spending quality time with his family.
