Center for Industrial Services


The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS) is one of six units of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service. CIS works with Tennessee’s business leaders to identify opportunities for economic growth, understand the government contract procurement process and attract new businesses to their communities.

CIS helps companies and communities succeed, grow and create high-quality jobs by providing consulting, training and connecting services across the state. Whether you want to improve productivity on the plant floor, comply with safety or environmental regulations, navigate the federal procurement process, introduce a new product, or improve your economic development potential, CIS has the expertise to help you succeed.

In addition to having a skilled and experienced staff who can help you define and solve your most pressing problems, CIS can connect you with the knowledge and expertise of Tennessee universities, federal laboratory scientists, state government partners, the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the US Economic Development Association, the Southeastern OSHA Training Education Institute or Procurement Technical Assistance Center and other industry professionals.

CIS was established in 1963 by the Tennessee General Assembly and charged with “…. provision of information, data and materials relating to the needs of industry….”. From the outset, CIS was organized along the lines of the long-established and highly successful extension service model. Since that time, CIS has grown its staff of professional employees located in six offices across the state of Tennessee. Tennessee business and industry are assisted daily by CIS engineering and professional staff in improving their economic competitiveness on a national and global level.

Performance Solutions

  • Lean/Continuous Improvement – the full suite of Lean Tools
  • Advance Lean/CI – Lean/CI Culture (Kata), Training Within Industry
  • Quality Systems – ISO, TS, AS, NQA-1, Problem Solving, Root Cause Analysis
  • Supply Chain Optimization
  • Innovation Systems
  • Six Sigma
  • Special University Professor Projects – Engineering, Business, etc.
  • Leadership/Supervisor Training

Sustainability Solutions

  • Economy, Energy, Environment (E3)

Regulatory Solutions

  • Health and Safety
  • Environmental Regulatory Compliance

Growth Solutions

  • Economic Development
  • Innovation Services
  • Technology Acceleration
  • Selling to the Government – Tennessee APEX Accelerator

Related Links: