Industrial Assessment Centres (IAC) are a part of industry wide effort towards increasing resource productivity through a process called Industries of the the Future. This process, supported by the U.S Department of Energy's Industrial Technologies Program (ITP), focusses on energy and resource -intensive materials and processing sector, accelerates research and development of advanced technologies identified as priorities by industry.
      To help manufacturers save money through efficient energy and waste management, an IAC team comprising engineering faculty and students conducts an one-day site visit and performs an assessment. Assessments help maximize energy efficiency, reduce waste and improve productivity. A report detailing the analysis, findings and recommendations is sent to the client.
      The client has the choice of implementing the recommendations. But statistics reveal that the recommendations have saved a lot of resources for the client, notwithstanding a very short payback period. And because savings in energy and resource use recur year after year, cumulative bottom-line benefits can be impressive.