At the outset, the company should be aware of whether it wants to conduct the pinch analysis internally or outsource it as a service. Below, both options are briefly described.

In-house Implementation of the Pinch Analysis:

As a first step, it should be clarified whether the company already has personnel with the necessary expertise. The topic of pinch analysis is taught at some universities. There may be a graduate within the company who is willing to conduct a pinch analysis. Alternatively, a pinch analysis may have already been carried out by internal personnel at another location within the company.

One can familiarize oneself with the theory of pinch methodology through self-study, for example, using the BFE handbook (Brunner et al., 2017). Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts also regularly offers the continuing education course "Energy Optimization with Pinch Analysis" in the field of pinch analysis. After attending this course, graduates have the knowledge to independently conduct pinch analyses. In addition, they receive an introduction to the use of the PinCH software as part of the course.

Another option for getting familiar with applying pinch analysis would be individual training at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Alternatively, a company course could be conducted for larger groups. Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts offers comprehensive opportunities to further educate oneself in the field of pinch analysis or to become professionally prepared for independent execution.

In principle, pinch analysis can be conducted manually. However, it is recommended to use specialized software for pinch analysis. For example, the PinCH software developed by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts guides the user step by step through the analysis process. This enables pinch analyses to be carried out more cost-effectively and purposefully. Additionally, software-based work helps eliminate certain sources of errors, especially for those with less experience in this area. The PinCH software can be tested for free with a trial version. If you would like to test a trial version or receive an offer for purchasing or renting the PinCH software, you can find further information at the following link.

An initial pinch rough analysis or pinch analysis can also be accompanied by a pinch expert for quality assurance. Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts offers coaching sessions in which the person conducting the analysis is supported from data acquisition to the development of the final presentation.

Training an employee to independently complete a pinch analysis involves some effort and should only be considered if this employee will conduct several pinch analyses within the company.

Awarding a Project to a Pinch Analysis Service Provider:

Within the company, it is first necessary to clarify whether there are already internal experiences regarding pinch analysis. Perhaps pinch analyses have already been conducted at other locations. An exchange of experiences regarding the analysis process, potential service providers, competitors, etc., would enhance the company's procurement capabilities.

If the company is a member of act (Cleantech Agentur Schweiz) or EnAW (Energie-Agentur der Wirtschaft), i.e., already has a target agreement, a brief consultation should be held with the contact person. This contact person may be able to provide certain tips for conducting a pinch analysis.

You can view a list of references from energieschweiz. This list includes currently active Swiss pinch service providers and their previous references. It is worth examining the references of each provider carefully, as each pinch service provider must familiarize themselves intensively with the processes. Therefore, it is advantageous if the consultant already knows similar operations.

Select several potential service providers and invite them for a personal meeting. During this meeting, you can also introduce the company to the service provider. Based on this initial visit and discussion, the invited service providers - assuming that your company is suitable for conducting a pinch rough analysis - can prepare an offer for conducting the analysis.