GEAPS Online Learning courses are available anytime on demand! Once registered for the Quality Management Systems for Bulk Materials Handling Operations course, learners have access to the course for 12 weeks. After registering, learners will be sent a confirmation email that contains details for accessing the course.
The Quality Management Systems for Bulk Materials Handling Operations course counts toward the Credential in Grain Operations Management (CGOM) GEAPS Credential. Learn more by exploring the GEAPS Credentialing Program.
Cost:
$495 for members $795 for non-members
Course Description
Every day, grain facilities generate enormous amounts of information. Grain quality data, inventory records, operating reports, inspections, traceability documentation, customer requirements, and regulatory records all provide valuable insights—but only if they are used effectively.
The Grain Quality Management Systems for Bulk Materials Handling Operations course helps grain industry professionals understand how a Quality Management System (QMS) transforms information into action. Learners explore how a well-designed QMS supports consistency, traceability, compliance, operational reliability, continuous improvement, and customer confidence.
Course Topics
Data in a Quality Management System:
Interpreting Data
Using Data to Forecast
Structure of a Quality Management System:
Quality Policy Manual
Records/Forms
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Work Instructions (WIS)
Working in a Quality Management System:
Compliance
Profitability
Risk Exposure
Safety Performance
Traceability
Industry Awareness:
Bioterrorism
Cost Benefit
Inventory Management
Operational Priorities
Standards
Course Length
Although it may vary by individual, seven hours is the estimated time to complete this course.
Course Goals
Understand the structure and components of an effective Quality Management System.
Evaluate standard operating procedures, work instructions, records, and documentation systems.
Interpret quality-related reports, trends, and performance data.
Use data to anticipate risks, identify opportunities, and support operational decision-making.
Apply QMS principles to real-world grain handling, storage, and processing situations.
Support traceability, compliance, quality preservation, and customer satisfaction.
By the end of this course, learners will answer the essential question: How do we best use the data we are collecting to make strategic decisions, continuouslyimprove,and meet or exceed customerexpectations?
Target Audience
Quality Management Systems for Bulk Materials Handling Operations is designed for new and emerging supervisors, facility managers, quality control professionals, and other administrative personnel responsible for quality control-related decision making. Rather than focusing only on procedures, this course helps learners understand the “why” behind the use of quality management systems. Learners gain the insight needed to optimize the utilization of quality management systems and support operational success.
Subject Matter Experts
Dr. Gretchen A. Mosher Iowa State UniversitySee Bio
Dr. Gretchen A. Mosher is a professor in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University, where she holds a research and teaching appointment. She also directs the Grain Quality Testing Laboratory at Iowa State University, which provides chemical and physical testing of primarily corn and soybeans. Dr. Mosher teaches university courses in Total Quality Management and Grain and Feed Safety and Quality Analytics. She has published over 85 research articles, conference papers, and book chapters, and given approximately 200 scientific presentations. She has been a member of GEAPS since 2010 and is the incoming president for the Greater Iowa GEAPS Chapter.
Barb Grove Central Valley AgSee Bio
Barb Grove is an agricultural operations and food safety leader with decades of experience in grain handling, agribusiness, cooperative management, and quality assurance. Throughout her career, she has worked across the grain supply chain in Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas, holding leadership roles in grain marketing, agronomy, operations, safety, quality management, and food safety for multiple agricultural cooperatives.
Her expertise includes HACCP, Food Defense, Preventive Controls, Good Manufacturing Practices, internal auditing, and facility certification, having helped organizations achieve ISO, BRCGS, and Organic certifications. She also brings experience in livestock production, veterinary research, and agricultural operations, providing a practical understanding of food and feed systems from farm to facility.
Barb is widely recognized for her leadership within the grain industry. She served as President of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) in 2021–22 and Chairman of the Board in 2022–23, and she continues to serve on strategic committees and chapter leadership. She represents GEAPS in the OSHA Alliance, fostering collaboration between industry organizations and OSHA to advance workplace safety.
She also serves on the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) Grain Grades & Weights Committee and was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Grain Inspection Advisory Committee. Her combination of operational expertise, regulatory knowledge, and industry leadership makes her a sought-after speaker and trusted subject matter expert on grain operations, food safety, quality systems, and agricultural best practices.
Barb is passionate about advancing food safety, operational excellence, and workforce development across the grain industry. She regularly shares her expertise through industry committees, educational programs, and speaking engagements, helping organizations strengthen safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
Bill HortonSee Bio
Bill Horton is recently retired after 43 years in the grain industry. His tenure saw him through many different roles, including working in grain handling, agronomy applications, management, Quality Management Systems Director, and Field Safety Manager. While working in the QMS field, he was involved in training, auditing, writing procedures and work instructions, as well as rewriting procedures for continual improvement. Bill has been through many training programs, including ISO 9001 and QMS training. Bill was a certified ISO 9001 auditor.
Thank You To Our Supporters
This educational material was developed under a grant from the GEAPS Foundation, with funding generously provided by the following donors. We gratefully acknowledge the support of these contributors, whose commitment to advancing educational resources in grain operations and safety has made this work possible.
