Energy Assessment and Recommendations
C.S. Precision Manufacturing, Inc., is a family-owned business in Gering, Nebraska, founded in 2000 with 3 machines and 12 employees. The company's primary line of business is in manufacturing hydraulic fittings and couplings for a variety of applications ranging from oil fields to agricultural uses. Most of the fittings are machined on either a multi-spindle or CNC lathe. The company goes through about 100,000 pounds of steel per week, while producing about 70,000 individual pieces per day. C.S. Precision is located in a 65,000 square foot facility in Gering Nebraska and currently employs approximately 70 individuals.
The Challenge
When meeting with the staff of the Nebraska MEP, part of the MEP National Network™, C.S. Precision discussed being interested in continuous improvement strategies that could result in cost savings, or cost avoidance. The Nebraska MEP informed C.S. Precision of the energy assessment capabilities available through the MEP and the College of Engineering at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Scott James, president of C.S. Manufacturing thought that this was something that could be beneficial and felt there was room for improvement that just needed to be identified and quantified. Arrangements were discussed and made to have their Gering facility reviewed by the energy assessment team.
MEP's Role
A team from the College of Engineering, under the leadership of Dr. Robert Williams, reviewed C.S. Precision’s Gering facility looking for ways to improve the plant's energy efficiency. The team spent a full day reviewing the facility for areas where energy savings could be found such as air leakages, lights and motorized equipment in use. Additionally, the team reviewed the company’s energy use history. Upon completion they put together a multi-page report which was presented to C.S. Precision’s leadership team for review with recommendations to consider. After their review, the leadership team implemented a number of recommendations to improve the company’s efficiency.
Results
 | $5,000 in cost savings through using the services of the Nebraska MEP and College of Engineering |
 | New investment of $30,000 on a new air compressor and $10,000 on lighting |
 | $2,000 per year in reduced labor, materials and energy costs by using the services of the Nebraska MEP and College of Engineering. |
