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February 2020 ¦ international-dairy.com · 21
nitely have dairy-specific skills. These can only be brought across
if professional education is at a level that can fulfill industry demand.
„Do not level down specific dairy skills training but rather
scale it up,“ Frandsen quoted on of the key findings of the AEDIL
project. Adjustment of dairy training requires a close collaboration
of industry and schools. AEDIL recommends that teachers
and trainers have regular internships in dairy companies to have
an insight into the state-of-the-art of industrial milk processing.
Besides dairy skills, the industry also requires soft skills that
make workers capable of trouble shooting etc. This requires
workers that are creative and problem solution minded.
Green skills
When it comes to green skills, dairy workers must be able to
assess risks associated with milk processing, they must have
an insight in re-use of energy and resources and be able to
understand business plans with a green angle.
Digital skills
Digital skills rank very high in the requirements of workers‘
qualification brought forward by the dairy industry. This includes
the ability to understand fundamentals of automation
and to use business software. Pilot plants in dairy schools
should be upgraded to state-of-the-art automation to make
students familiar with existing technology. Part of the required
digital skills is also that workers need to be aware of IT security.
Management skills
As the dairy industry also needs qualified managers, workers‘
education must convey special qualification. The AEDIL project
identified that business and supply chain understanding as well
as LEAN as a tool for controlling unit operations stand at the
core. In higher level education, future dairy company managers
need to understand milk markets and consumer trends and
their impacts on the industry.
Work-based learning
All these skills must be developed in a work-based (life-long)
learning process. Trainers and teachers alike need continuous
upskilling in dairy plants to stay on top of newest developments.
This means that a greater alignment between educational institutions
and the industry is required. Dairy companies also may
make use of external specialists in the supplying industry to cover
special and plant-related knowledge transfer requirements.
Recruitment
The image of the dairy industry as a place of work is generally
poor. The public has the impression that milk processing
lacks in progress towards a green economy. Therefore, the
industry must see to improve its image as employer and to
communicate possible ways of career. The focus of communication
should be on digitalisation and innovation to make
the sector interesting to youngsters.
The AEDIL event in Leeuwarden made one thing quite
clear: if the dairy industry wants to attract and employ wellskilled
workers, it must invest into necessary resources. This
in turn requires money. The industry and, given the importance
of milk production in rural economy, governments
should be prepared for investment into qualified staff.
AEDIL has produced a report that summarises all the findings
of the 3-year Erasmus+ project in detail. It as well as the database
is available for free download at www.dairysectorskills.com.
Used machines:
Separators, Bactofuges
Brands: Tetra Pak, Alfa Laval, GEA Westfalia
Homogenizers
Brands: Tetra Alex, SPX APV, GEA Niro Soavi
UHT & Sterile / Aseptic units
Brands: Alfa Laval, Tetra Therm, Tetra TBA, GEA
Also complete dairy factories