Industrial Assessment Centers will use college students to conduct energy audits.

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The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) has been granted $292,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy to partner SME Student Chapters with existing Industrial Assessment Centers at universities nationwide.

IAC assessments focus on industrial energy conservation techniques through energy audits and assessments of manufacturers. This grant broadens the program to assess manufacturing processes for energy savings.

Starting this year, SME will partner with six universities, incrementally expanding the program over the next three and a half years. In total, SME will partner with all 24 IACs participating in the DOE program, providing invaluable hands-on industry experience for future manufacturing professionals.

“SME’s student members are the future manufacturing workforce, and engaging them with the IACs across the country will provide them with critical skills and training while producing real cost savings for small to mid-sized manufacturers.” said Joe LaRussa, director of membership. “This program typifies how SME, industry and government can collaborate to strengthen manufacturing as a critical component of the U.S. economy.”

University-based IACs across the country provide students with critical skills and training to conduct energy assessments in a broad range of facilities. SME faculty advisors will work directly with IAC directors to guide the students during the assessment process.

Since 1981, the IACs have performed nearly 15,000 assessments containing more than 117,000 recommendations. Industry assessments have resulted in energy savings of saved 530 trillion Btu (British thermal units) or more than $5.6 billion. More information on Industrial Assessment Centers can be found on their website.