We are a team of university-based faculty and student engineers that provide free assessments for small to medium sized manufacturers to help them increase productivity and efficiency as well as reduce waste and energy usage. In conjunction with the UNL College of Engineering's Partners in Pollution Prevention (P3) program, the NIAC program has served 764 clients in 93 Nebraska communities since 1997. We can provide assessments for manufacturers meeting the following criteria: Within Standard Industrial Codes (SIC) 20-39 Gross annual sales below $100 million Fewer than 500 employees at the plant site Annual energy bills more than $100,000 and less than $2.5 million Through funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, our program has not only helped many Nebraskan manufacturers save thousands of dollars, but it has also given UNL engineering students an opportunity to receive hands-on training in and insights into the field of energy engineering. The process is simple! We ask our clients to provide us with basic information (i.e. utility bills for the last 12 months, gross sales, and number of employees). Once we determine that clients are eligible to utilize our services, we will then schedule a day in which students and faculty can conduct an on-site plant visit (these visits typically take only one day, but could take two for large plants). During the plant visit, our team uses state-of-the-art tools to identify ways for the manufacturer to conserve energy and reduce waste. We then research, evaluate, and develop recommendations that can save the manufacturer money as well as make its plant cleaner and more productive and efficient. A year after this assessment report is provided, we will follow up with the client to determine the extent to which the recommendations have been implemented and if the content of the report has met the client's needs. Contact us to find out more about our program or to schedule an assessment today!