Diploma course on feed manufacturing technology
[SMS goes SFT]

Goal and purpose of course

Aim of this advanced training is to provide graduates of the Swiss School of Milling SMS, in addition to their existing knowledge and experience, theoretical and practical expertise in feed technology and thus to expand their professional competence.

Due to the constant change and increased consolidation of feed mills, it is of particular importance to meet the increasingly higher demands regarding end product quality and variety as well as the ever more demanding market competition. The resulting changes in the production facilities require highly trained, flexible and broadly based professionals and managers in the field of process engineering.

As a result, graduates are in a position to take over management functions in various production areas due to their additionally acquired technological expertise in the field of feed milling. Furthermore, they benefit from scientific knowledge tailored to the activity in compound feed production.

Course description

Cooperation between the Swiss School of Milling and the Swiss Institute of Feed Technology

The Swiss Milling School (SMS) and the Swiss Institute of Feed Technology (SFT) have decided to offer SMS graduates the opportunity to obtain the SFT diploma as “Feed Production Engineer” at reduced time and costs in addition to their diploma “Milling Technologist SMS”.

Building on the knowledge already acquired at SMS in flour milling technology, the SFT offers a complementary technical training focusing on feed production, which requires a minimum absence from the workplace. In this four-week intensive course, graduates will be provided with the prerequisites to understand and operate all modern process technologies and processes in a compound feed plant and to apply them in practice.

Advantages of the cooperation:

• The total costs as well as the time required are significantly reduced compared to the convetional diploma course.
• The course participants achieve a career-relevant degree in only one month (intensive course).
• The combination of both degrees increases the attractiveness of the graduates on the job market and offers more possibilities and flexibility for future career plans.

Course structure

Preparatory correspondence course

A preparatory course of about 12 weeks prece-des the intensive courses and starts approx. three months in advance. It is designed to refresh existing basic knowledge and teaching new aspects. Students are committed to send part of their work according to a time schedule to the course-management.

The knowledge gained during the preparatory courses serves as a basis for the subsequent intensive courses.

Two four-week intensive courses

In the intensive courses, the students receive selective training in all important areas of modern feed manufacturing technology. The emphasis of training is on process technology and flow sheet design. The practical training offered in addition to theory enables students to understand the working principle of machinery, to discuss test results, and to familiarize themselves with modern laboratory methods.

Topics

• Basic concept of feed & premix manufacturing plants
  State of the art plant layouts. The main process stages and their equipment.
• Modern Process Technology
  From the reception of raw materials to the shipping of the finished products.
• Hands-on Training in the Training Center
  Knowledge of machinery; working principle of equipment; operation, maintenance and safety precautions.
• Hands-on Training in the Test Laboratory
  Practical tests, in grinding and mixing; conditioning, hygienizing and compacting.
• Feed Science and Animal Nutrition
  Knowledge of raw materials, chemical composition of feeds and their conversion; least-cost formulation and quality management.
• Hands-on Training in the Chemical & Macro Laboratories
  Analysis of test results for determination of nutritional value and quality aspects.
• Field Trips, Plant Tours
  Visits of feed mills and related plants.

Audience

Prerequisite for the participation in the diploma course is the successful completion Swiss Milling School SMS diploma course in St. Gallen. As a rule, no more than 20 students are accepted per course, which means that individual support for course participants can be guaranteed.

Previous training as a production and operations manager, trained feed miller, flour miller, or in related professions in the grain processing industry (millwright, maintenance personnel, etc.) is advantageous.

Course dates

• Preparatory course
  June – August (correspondence base)
• Intensive course
  September – October