The global flour milling industry is a traditional sector that for generations has been content to create its products in time-honored fashion. However, for Miller Milling there were two factors driving change. In 2012, it was bought by the Japanese holding company Nisshin Seifun Group, which also owns Nisshin Flour Milling, Japan’s largest flour miller with ambitions to become the world’snumber one flour milling company in regard to customer satisfaction.
“Nisshin Group, the parent company, and Miller Milling believe IT adoption in the milling industry is far behind other industries and we will only be able to grow a successful business and contribute to a sustainable society by developing IT,” explains Daisuke Ito, Miller Milling Director of Engineering. “So, in reality, if we wish to reduce energy consumption and waste while producing a stable, high quality, and safe product for our customers, there is no other option than to develop the IT technology.”
The other driver came from the market. Environmentally aware and health-conscious consumers are increasingly alert to the provenance of their food, which means Miller Milling’s clients are demanding ever-greater transparency and auditability of their products. “Food safety, traceability, and sustainability are all being pushed by our customers, so we have to move forward and keep up with these changing demands,” explains Jeff Hole, Senior Vice President of Operations at Miller Milling.