Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, Fort Worth

The Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) helps businesses across Texas improve operations through strategic management, technology, and sustainable practices. To support manufacturers in reducing waste and cutting costs, TMAC provides hands-on guidance and practical solutions tailored to their needs. In 2022, the TMAC team confronted a growing challenge: How to quantify tangible environmental reductions achieved through Pollution Prevention (P2) assessments? To accomplish this, TMAC sought out a more precise, data-driven approach to demonstrate real-world improvements.

Seeing an opportunity for innovation, TMAC explored the potential of sensor technology to enhance its P2 assessments. This forward-thinking initiative allowed the team to gather real-time data on key environmental factors such as energy usage (kWh), water consumption, air particulates, temperature, and humidity—transforming the way businesses could monitor and manage their environmental footprint.

From 2023 through 2024, TMAC successfully deployed commercially available sensors at nine manufacturing sites across the state. These sensors provide continuous monitoring data, enabling manufacturers to respond to changes and address issues immediately. By adopting this technology, these manufacturers are not only cutting down on environmental impacts but also lowering costs associated with electricity usage, water consumption, and more.

Through these pioneering efforts, TMAC is setting a new standard for how technology can support both environmental responsibility and operational efficiency.