Background:

During a night shift for milking at a dairy farm, I incorrectly set up the bulk tank incorrectly after previously setting up a different tank. This lead to spilling milk everywhere after the pipes became blocked. Due to the 24 hour operation, assistance isn’t always available, so I wasn’t the first person to spill tank, or forget something.

Challenge:

The farm lacked a standardized, easy-to-reference procedure for new and rotating staff. Verbal instructions varied between shifts, and training relied heavily on shadowing rather than documented guidance. This led to confusion, time loss during setup, and improper cleaning practices that risked product quality.

Solution:

I created a one-page reference guide to support consistent, safe, and efficient milking procedures across all shifts.