The Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) at San José State University was established in 2022 and serves manufacturing businesses in California located within ~150 miles of San José. SJSU IAC is funded by the US Department of Energy to help US manufacturers save energy, improve productivity, and reduce waste by providing on-site technical assessments conducted by a team of SJSU faculty and students at no cost to the client.

After the site visit, the IAC team provides a comprehensive report with specific details on all opportunities for improving competitiveness identified during the assessment, including applicable rebates and incentives from utility companies, as well as state and federal agencies.  

In addition, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Department of Energy plans to provide grants (up to $300,000 per client; details TBD) for the implementation of the energy conservation measures recommended by SJSU IAC.

IAC Program History

Industrial Assessment Centers (formerly called the Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Centers) were created by the Department of Commerce in 1976 in response to the oil embargo and rising energy costs. The program was specifically focused on helping small and medium-sized manufacturing facilities cut back on unnecessary costs from inefficient energy use.

The IAC program was moved to the Department of Energy just after it was formed in 1978 and was later expanded to include evaluations of ineffective production procedures, excess waste production, and other production-related problems. More recent additions to the IAC program scope include improving cybersecurity awareness, exploring smart manufacturing technologies, and implementing comprehensive energy management systems.