HSZG students carry out internal energy audits for Stadtwerke Zittau GmbH.
Companies that have certified an energy management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 50001 must demonstrate its functionality through regular internal and external audits. While external audits may only be carried out by accredited certification companies, internal audits can be carried out by internal or external qualified persons.
At the HSZG, the degree courses "Integrated Management Systems" and "Integrated Management" not only teach content on energy management systems in accordance with DIN EN ISO 50001, but also on the planning, implementation and evaluation of internal audits and their application in internal university audits.
This expertise has also been used by Stadtwerke Zittau GmbH (SWZ) since the 2017/18 winter semester. As part of a cooperation agreement, it was agreed that students from the above-mentioned degree courses would carry out the internal system audits in the energy management system for SWZ under the guidance of their lecturers. This includes drawing up an audit plan, creating audit checklists, carrying out the system audits through document checks, site inspections, interviews with employees and division managers or the management of SWZ as well as documenting the audit results in an audit report and presenting them at SWZ.
In January 2018, the students carried out the first audits for biomethane production, electricity grid operation, gas/water grid operation and the technical management of the municipal swimming pool and presented them to the SWZ energy management officer on January 23, 2018. The next audits will follow in the summer semester of 2018.
The external and professionally trained view of the students will provide SWZ with important information for continuous improvement. At the same time, the students are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge to a specific practical case.
"Conducting an audit in a real company ourselves is a great experience, as it enables us to put the knowledge we have learned into practice."
(Master's student).
"For us as an SEZ, the implementation of current/new requirements for energy assessment and the resulting objectives in the energy management system is important, which was jointly reviewed/discussed during the internal audits thanks to the very good technical expertise. For the organizational processes and their implementation, it is important in an energy supply company to constantly question the limits, areas of application and possibilities of influence."
(Hardy Krüger, Energy Management Officer at SWZ).
A cooperation that creates added value for both sides, is an example of regional cooperation in action and, within this framework, allows the HSZG to become active in the area of Third Mission (the mission of universities to cooperate with civil society and companies) in accordance with the target agreement with the SMWK for the years 2017-20.
