Event Name: International Immersion Program Report	Event Date: September 16th-19th, 2024
Faculty Coordinators: Dr. Ripudaman Gaur, Dr. Saumendra Mohanthy	Event Timings: 10:00 am onwards
No. of Participants : 120	Venue: MAHSA University, Malaysia

Objective:

The primary objective of the industrial visit to Banas Dairy (Amul) was to provide experiential learning to PGDM students by exposing them to the real-world functioning of a leading organization in the dairy and FMCG sector. The visit aimed to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and practical industry applications by helping students understand how principles of management, production, operations, and supply chain are implemented in practice. It further aimed to offer insights into the organizational structure, environment, and culture of a cooperative dairy enterprise, while enhancing understanding of the end-to-end dairy processing operations, including milk collection, pasteurization, filtration, packaging, and storage. The visit also sought to familiarize students with the logistics and delivery mechanisms that ensure timely distribution of dairy products across regions, expose them to quality assurance techniques and technologies used to maintain product standards, and develop awareness of sustainability practices and operational efficiency in large-scale dairy production systems.

Detailed Report:

The industrial visit to Banas Dairy (Amul), located in Faridabad, was conducted over two days — November 28 and 29, 2024 — and was organized for the PGDM students of Lloyd Business School. The visit was coordinated under the supervision of faculty members and supported by the industry liaison team.

Upon arrival, the students were welcomed by the official representatives of Amul, who provided a comprehensive orientation about the cooperative’s history, mission, and operational model under the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF).

a. Organizational Environment and Culture

Students observed the structured and disciplined work culture prevalent within the organization. The cooperative model of Amul was explained, highlighting the democratic management approach that integrates farmers, employees, and management.

b. Functioning and Processes

The visit included a guided tour of various departments, where students witnessed the milk procurement, quality testing, pasteurization, and packaging processes. The workflow demonstrated how technology and manpower are integrated to ensure efficiency and product quality.

c. Milk Pasteurization and Filtration Process

Students gained a deeper understanding of the milk pasteurization process, which involves heating milk to specific temperatures to eliminate harmful microorganisms while preserving nutrients. The filtration techniques used before and after pasteurization were demonstrated, emphasizing hygiene and purity standards.

d. Storage and Cold Chain Management

The team was briefed on the storage infrastructure, including large-capacity cooling tanks and cold storage rooms. The concept of cold chain logistics was discussed, focusing on temperature control and product preservation during storage and transportation.

e. Distribution and Delivery Mechanisms

Students also learned about Amul’s distribution network, which operates through a vast supply chain connecting producers, distributors, and retailers. The emphasis was placed on logistics planning, route optimization, and time management for perishable goods.

Throughout the visit, students actively interacted with Amul officials, asking questions related to production management, marketing strategy, quality control, and operational challenges in the dairy industry.

Learning Outcomes:

The industrial visit offered valuable experiential learning for students, enabling them to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life business operations. It provided an in-depth understanding of organizational culture, highlighting how a cooperative structure like Amul promotes teamwork, accountability, and shared responsibility among employees and stakeholders. Through exposure to live dairy processing systems, students gained practical insights into operations management, workflow design, and process efficiency. The visit further enhanced their knowledge of quality assurance and food safety standards, including hygiene, filtration, and pasteurization processes essential for product quality compliance. Additionally, students learned about supply chain and logistics operations by observing Amul’s extensive distribution network, cold chain mechanisms, and inventory management practices. The experience also enabled them to connect classroom concepts such as Operations Management, Production Planning, and Supply Chain Management with actual industry practices. Interaction with industry professionals enriched their understanding of career opportunities and the managerial skills required in the FMCG and dairy sectors, strengthening the bridge between industry and academia.

Prepared by:

Dr. Ripudaman Gaur