Record of Success
As of September 2008, the national IAC program had conducted more than
14,000 assessments saving U.S. companies more than $700 million through efficiency and productivity improvements. The Oregon State University IAC has recommended more than $86 million in annual cost savings
to over 500 manufacturers, fifty-five percent of which have been implemented, equaling $26 million
in savings to manufacturers. The companies that implement our recommendations
not only save money, but also help reduce pollution.
Who wins?
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Participating Companies
On average, IAC
assessments yield recommendations that can save a manufacturer $183,000
annually. Payback on implementation costs averages a fast
1.0 years ... and the savings keep falling right to the bottom line, year after
year.
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Participating Universities
Through the IACs,
universities build valuable local industry relationships to maintain a
practical focus in their engineering curriculum. They also gain an
edge in attracting and retaining top undergraduate and graduate engineering
students.
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Participating Students
The next generation of
energy-savvy engineers is being prepared in today's IAC program. Each
year, 150 students participate nationally, gaining valuable hands-on
experience in auditing key industrial operations, systems, and processes---
experience that can jump-start their engineering careers.
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U.S. Taxpayers
The Department of
Energy's Office of Industrial Technologies provides financial and technical
support to the IACs. The nation's economy benefits from more
competitive small and medium-sized manufacturers--- a sector that accounts
for over 50 percent of U.S. manufacturing employment. Other
returns? Enhanced energy security and environmental benefits from
decreased energy and resource use.
The primary objective
of the IAC is to identify and evaluate opportunities for increased productivity,
energy conservation and waste minimization through visits to industrial
sites.
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