Kennesaw State earns federal contract to help local manufacturers improve efficiency

KENNESAW, Ga. |
Nov 17, 2022

Kennesaw State College pupils and school users are bringing electricity and productivity
evaluation expert services to modest and medium-sizing suppliers in the Southeast many thanks
to a contract with the U.S. Department of Vitality (DOE).

The DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Electrical power awarded Kennesaw Condition a contract to create an Industrial Evaluation Center (IAC) to offer facility assessments at no cost to manufacturers. The goal is to help strengthen productiveness, while offering area small business operators tips on how to decrease waste and save electricity at their producing crops. The IAC is housed inside the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technologies (SPCEET).

Making use of instruments that quite a few tiny manufacturers can not afford to pay for, like acoustic leak imagers
and infrared thermometers, the college students and college members have completed 9 assessments
and been given constructive responses from the companies and the Ga Department of
Economic Growth.

“This IAC offers a significant knowledge for SPCEET college students, and people who take part in these assessments will be better-organized for positions after graduation,” claimed SPCEET Dean Ian Ferguson. “Not only are they placing their abilities to the check at distinct producing facilities, but they are also examining the information and placing alongside one another a penned report for the company operators.”

Kennesaw Condition is partnering with Clark Atlanta University (CAU) and Southface Institute,
an Atlanta-dependent nonprofit that encourages sustainability and inexperienced creating methods,
over the following 4 years to create and operate the IAC.

“We are honored to have been picked for this option,” claimed Amin Esmaeili, director of Kennesaw State’s IAC and assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering. “It allows our pupils to become familiar with the manufacturing method and get knowledge with electricity engineering, whilst also encouraging enterprises in the space.”

So much, the College has acquired $517,652 to run the IAC, with the likelihood of staying awarded up to $1.6 million from the DOE as the method progresses. 

“The Industrial Evaluation Centre at KSU supplies an outstanding remedy for these firms with its extensive, no-charge assessments,” said John Morehouse, director of Production at the Ga Center of Innovation, which is a division of the Ga Division of Economic Growth. “These Ga-based mostly companies are capable to use the information gathered and strategies created by learners and faculty members to even further lessen their power consumption and help you save revenue.”  

Esmaeili stated there are many aims related to the establishment and procedure of an IAC. The initially is to educate and coach learners about energy efficiency, good production and efficiency will increase. The next is to support smaller and medium-sized suppliers in the region by bettering their productiveness and suggesting strategies to lessen waste, therefore conserving them functions charges. The 3rd objective is to target on range and inclusion by performing with minority-owned corporations and partnering with Clark Atlanta College, the premier of the four Traditionally Black Faculties and Universities establishments that compose the Atlanta College Middle Consortium.  

“Collaboration among CAU, Kennesaw State and Southface Institute is crucial for this Georgia IAC undertaking,” said professor of dual degree engineering at CAU, Dr. Olugbemiga Olatidoye. “Increasing range in engineering fields begins with obtaining early quality college students, center college, high university, and college or university pupils interested in engineering as early as doable.”

Extra members of the group involve KSU associate professor of mechanical engineering know-how Javad Khazaii, affiliate professor of robotics and mechatronics engineering David Guerra-Zubiaga, and technological principal Hugh Magande of Southface Institute. 

Twelve Kennesaw Condition students and three Clark Atlanta College learners have participated
in the assessments so much.

– Abbey O’Brien Barrows
Photos by David Caselli

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A leader in modern educating and finding out, Kennesaw State College presents undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels to its more than 43,000 college students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University Process of Ga with 11 educational faculties. The university’s lively campus tradition, numerous inhabitants, robust world-wide ties and entrepreneurial spirit attract college students from all over the state and the environment. Kennesaw Condition is a Carnegie-selected doctoral study institution (R2), inserting it amongst an elite team of only 7 per cent of U.S. faculties and universities with an R1 or R2 standing. For additional information and facts, go to kennesaw.edu.