MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — The fifth annual IAOM-KSU Introduction to Flour Milling was held at the International Grains Program (IGP) Conference Center at Kansas State University (KSU), Manhattan, Kansas, U.S., from Jan. 14-18. 
Co-sponsored by the International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM), 20 participants from the U.S. attended the annual course.
Course participants heard presentations from industry professionals, experienced hands-on workshops and had a high level of interaction with each other and the instructors. Mark Fowler, IGP associate director and milling specialist, Dan Wells, milling engineer and adjunct faculty from Salina, Kansas, U.S. and Shawn Thiele, milling operations manager, led the course.
This training attracted a broad range of individuals to the program, said Fowler. It brought individuals who are new to the industry as well as several human resources managers who wanted to learn the basics of the milling process. 
A business unit leader and continuous improvement manager for Modelez International in Canada, Joe Vandenberg, appreciated the opportunity to break down the milling process in order to catch up to the knowledge of his peers.
“Since it is my first year with the company I have a lot to learn about the milling industry and K-State has a great reputation,” Vandenberg said. “It was a great opportunity to learn more and improve my technical understanding for milling.”
As a client human resources manager, Michelle Anderson of Horizon Milling said that in order to be an effective business partner she needs to understand the business she is representing.
“I need to understand what happens in the mill so that I can provide my expertise as an HR manager, and understand the business and how that translates to the customers,” Anderson said.
Several participants highly recommended this course for individuals who are entering the milling industry who want to dive-in and learn about milling firsthand.