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Session 2533

Session 2533

An Expert-Based Assessment Software Program for Industrial Manufacturers Scott Dunning, Bruce Segee, Vincent Allen University of Maine

Abstract This paper discusses a software program that was developed at the University of Maine to assist manufacturers in minimizing waste and improving energy efficiency. The software combines the most common recommendations made in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Assessment Center program in a user-friendly package that can be used by computer novices. It also includes “wizards” that serve as an expert system to lead the user through an assessment of their total facility. The program is interactive and based around the Windows 95 operating system. Once users enter the necessary data into the program, it will generate a report similar to those created by Industrial Assessment Centers. General code formation will be covered with a discussion of some of the recommendations that are included. 1. Introduction Since 1978, the U.S. Department of Energy has sponsored the Industrial Assessment Center program. This program provides “no-cost” industrial assessments to small and medium-sized manufacturers around the United States. The program utilizes 30 Universities which each perform 30 assessments annually at firms within 150 miles of their respective campuses. It has been highly successful in training students in energy efficiency and waste minimization techniques. The program has also been very successful helping the manufacturers that are served by the program. To have the greatest national effect on energy efficiency, the program is targeted toward those medium-sized manufacturers that have the highest energy consumption. It is assumed that large manufacturers have the necessary engineering expertise and savings generated for small manufacturers would have a minimal effect on national energy consumption. For a manufacturer to qualify for an assessment, it must meet three of the four following criteria. Clients must have: less than 500 employees, less than 75 million dollars in gross sales, no in- house energy expertise and total energy bills between $100,000 and $1.75 million. They also must maintain a standard industrial classification (SIC) code of 20-39. This greatly focuses the type of client served by the program. At the University of Maine Industrial Assessment Center, we came in contact with a large number of small manufacturers in the state of Maine that are too small to qualify for the program. Some of these clients did qualify for energy assistance through the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development’s Energy Conservation Program (DECD). Through a partnership with DECD, we have provided technical assistance to some small clients being

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Allen, V., & Segee, B. E., & Dunning, S. C. (1997, June), An Expert Based Assessment Software Program For Industrial Manufacturers Paper presented at 1997 Annual Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 10.18260/1-2--6563