Our comprehensive assessments analyze industrial processes to help facilities cut energy and water use, reduce waste, boost productivity, and drive sustainable innovation.
Benefits
Common outcomes from implementing recommended activities include:
- Increased productivity
- Reduced costs
- Reduced use of water, materials, and energy
- Reduced waste volume or toxicity
- Increased recycling or diversion of by-products
- Reduced emissions (VOC, HAP, & GHG)
- Perspective on waste and utility costs
- Instruction on how to calculate GHG emissions and evaluate reduction strategies
Ultimately, companies who undergo our comprehensive assessment benefit by:
- Promoting sustainable manufacturing and growth through innovative technology
- Strengthening their operations and the regional economy through job retention and creation
- Reducing environmental impacts while gaining a distinct competitive advantage
- Improving overall profitability and operational competitiveness
- Enhancing their market position to attract new business opportunities
Process
Scoping Meeting
One to two CEISB experts will lead an initial project scoping meeting at the participating facility to review the assessment process and provide facility representatives with background information so they can determine which team members will participate in the two-day assessment. Our experts will also tour the facility to better understand the manufacturing processes and layout. Then we will work with facility representatives to identify which processes to evaluate during the comprehensive assessment.
Once the process line or area to be assessed is identified, we will schedule assessment dates for the full comprehensive assessment team to meet with facility representatives over two days. The full CEISB comprehensive assessment team consists of 4-6 technical experts.
Pre-assessment Data Collection
The facility will receive a pre-assessment questionnaire to complete and submit to CEISB before the assessment. The questionnaire collects important facility details such as annual water usage, energy usage, and waste volumes. If required by the facility, CEISB will also secure confidentiality agreements.
Two-day Comprehensive Assessment
The first step of the two-day assessment is to provide a brief training on the assessment process and to review preliminary data collected from the facility. Then the group develops a process map that identifies the current state of inputs and outputs for each step of the process being reviewed.
The team then breaks into groups and conducts a physical walk-through and assessment of the process to verify what was discussed during the process mapping exercise, gather additional data, and begin identifying opportunities for improvement. The team then discusses and reviews what they learned, adjusts the process map as necessary, and then develops an initial comprehensive list of recommendations and ideas. The team later discusses these items, refines the project list, and facility representatives select the projects they want to pursue. We help prioritize selected projects with input from facility representatives.
Report
The CEISB team reviews the selected projects to develop detailed steps for change, costs, and payback. We compile this information into a report and present it to the client. Afterward, we discuss and develop an implementation plan with the client and determine whether we should provide additional assistance to implement selected projects.
Program Results & Outcome Metrics
The facility is responsible for tracking and documenting comprehensive assessment activities and outcomes. Data on implementation and improvements will be collected at 3, 6, and 12-month intervals by the assessment team. With the facility’s agreement, the CEISB assessment team will prepare a case study/journal article summarizing the benefits and positive outcomes.