Syllabus Maize Milling

Southern African Grain Milling Academy | SAGMA > Syllabus Maize Milling

The primary aim of these courses is to focus on and establish key competencies and skills for problem-solving and decision making in wheat and maize milling situations.  These courses consist of eight modules each and contain technical information on wheat and maize milling technology.

Tuition is through the medium of distance education, i.e., a correspondence course. SAGMA provides a tutor for each course to assist students with questions regarding the course material.

However, it is a QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations) requirement that students who follow milling as a career have a mentor (experienced miller/mill manager) to assist and guide them.

A SAGMA tutor will be responsible for compiling and marking the progress assignments and semester examinations.

Module 1

PURPOSE:
The focus of learning in this subject is to understand the maize milling industry and process and the applicable legislation.

TOPICS:

  • The milling industry
  • The importance of maize as a crop and source of food
  • Maize production
  • The shift miller
  • Occupational health, safety and environment in the mill

Module 2

PURPOSE:
The focus of learning in this subject is to understand maize grading, handling and safe storage.

TOPICS:

  • Introduction to maize intake
  • Receiving and handling of grain in bulk and in bags
  • Silo intake operations
  • Food safety
  • Grading principles and methods
  • Silo stock control and inventory management principles
  • Storage of maize and maize products
  • Infestation control in the mill

Module 3

PURPOSE:
The focus of learning in this subject is to understand the different methods of blending maize by removing impurities and conditioning by water addition.

TOPICS:

  • Grain impurities
  • Grain flow control
  • Maize blending
  • Conditioning of grain
  • Quality control

Module 4

PURPOSE:
The focus of learning in this subject is to build an understanding of all equipment used in the milling of maize and the efficient operation and maintenance thereof.

TOPICS:

  • General principles of assets and asset maintenance
  • Control apparatus
  • Maize & maize cleaning machines
  • Rollermills
  • Plansifters
  • Concentrators
  • Aspirators
  • Centrifugal type drum sifters
  • Vibratory sifters
  • Degerminators
  • Flake breakers (drum detachers) and impact detachers
  • Mechanical weighing
  • Pneumatic conveying

Module 5

PURPOSE:
The focus of learning in this subject is to build an understanding of the detail of the milling process, flow principles and the quality assurance of the whole process.

TOPICS:

  • The Degermination process for maize milling
  • The Aspiration system for maize milling
  • The break and reduction systems for maize milling
  • The germ roll system for maize milling
  • Plansifter internal flow schemes for maize milling
  • Product quality for maize milling
  • Process controls for maize milling
  • The Milling Process for maize milling
  • Flow diagram principles and mill balance for maize milling

Module 6

PURPOSE:
The focus of learning in this subject is to build an understanding of the effective blending, packing, storage and stock control of the product.

TOPICS:

  • Blending and mixing of finished products
  • Packing and bulk storage
  • Warehousing
  • Mechanical handling of stock
  • Stock control in the warehouse
  • Distribution

Module 7

PURPOSE:
The focus of learning in this knowledge is to build an understanding of effectively managing team members during a shift and reporting on shift performance.  Provide the Supervisor with the necessary knowledge and understanding to supervise a work team at the workplace.

TOPICS:

  • Supervisory principles
  • Supervision
  • Training and coaching
  • Written and Verbal Communication
  • Interpersonal relations
  • Organisational structures
  • Productivity, motivation and performance

Module 8

PURPOSE:
The focus of learning in this subject is to build an understanding of elementary science and apply its principles and fundamentals in the milling process.

TOPICS:

  • Elementary science
  • Elementary measurements and calculations
  • Elementary mechanics
  • Elementary electricity