Our production processes have evolved over the years, but we haven’t looked closely at energy use in a long time. What’s the best way to review our operations to find efficiency improvements without disrupting production schedules?
A good starting point is an “energy snapshot”, monitoring your major systems over a short period while production runs as usual. This helps pinpoint areas where equipment runs longer or harder than needed. Comparing actual run times to production requirements often reveals quick-win savings. Have you thought about scheduling a focused review during slower shifts or planned downtime, so it doesn’t interrupt your main production schedule?
That makes sense. If we did an “energy snapshot,” how do we decide which systems or production areas to monitor first to get the biggest impact?
Start with systems that account for the largest share of your utility bills or have the longest operating hours often compressed air, process heating/cooling, or large motor-driven equipment. It’s also worth checking areas where you suspect oversizing or long idle times. A short scoping meeting with your maintenance team (or an ITAC assessment team) can help prioritize what to monitor so you get the best return on your effort.