Manufacturing Consultants

Manufacturing consulting firms use innovative strategies to increase client productivity, efficiency and competitiveness

By Kristen McClung
Manufacturing consultants provide important skills for industrial and manufacturing businesses seeking to streamline factories, systems and operations. Using industry expertise, manufacturing technology knowledge and management experience, a manufacturing business consultant uses customized solutions to improve business performance for clients. Manufacturing consulting companies focus on increasing client competitiveness by developing and implementing strategies to reduce production time, reduce costs, increase capacity, increase flexibility, reduce inventory and increase overall product quality.

Before beginning your search for manufacturing specialists, it is important to define your consulting needs. Clearly identify the goal of industrial production consultancy, including project scope, services needed, time frame and budget. This information will help you select the best manufacturing consultant to meet your specific needs.

When selecting manufacturing experts for your organization, research each consultancy for manufacturing and evaluate the following:

1. What kind of experience does each industrial production consultant have in accelerating performance for your business market?

2. What business consulting services, management training and manufacturing programs do the manufacturing consulting companies offer to empower a long-term competitive advantage for your business?

3. How much should your business invest in manufacturing consulting services and what is the anticipated return on revenue?

 

Hire manufacturing consultants that specialize in your business sector

Select a manufacturing consultant who is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the individualized needs of your business sector, size and mission. Ask to see a list of past and present clients, and request references.
Try: Rockford Consulting Group provides an extensive list of its clients in the automotive, aerospace, chemical, durable consumer products, food and beverage, rubber, plastics, oil and refining, medical, electronics, off-road vehicles and distribution industries. AEC Engineering offers industrial systems integration consulting services for the industrial, water and wastewater, snowmaking, remediation and military industries. C&L Systems Group has extensive experience in the application of computer technology to real time manufacturing systems, and features an online client list.

Choose a manufacturing consulting firm with demonstrated skills

Review the services offered by each consultancy for manufacturing. Evaluate the firm's experience, qualifications and certifications, and request successful project examples of the specific skill sets you need. Assess the manufacturing consulting firm's ability to improve your manufacturing cost, quality, delivery and capabilities.
Try: Productivity offers customized manufacturing consulting services, including corporate diagnosis, strategic planning, implementation and project management, value stream management, operational assessments, lean sigma consulting and executive briefings. Boston Industrial Consulting is an independent manufacturing consulting firm offering a broad spectrum of services to improve efficiency, output and excellence. Manufacturing Management Associates features engineering, technology, manufacturing and management services designed to help manufacturing and distribution companies achieve their business goals.

Select manufacturing consultants that meet your budget

Many industrial production consultant firms operate on a project-based or hourly fee, while others utilize a retainer with reduced hourly rates for long-term relationship clients. Your manufacturing consultant cost will depend upon the scope of your services.
Try: Get a free assessment of your manufacturing operations at Technical Change Associates, a the leader in manufacturing consulting. Request a demo for specialized software engineering consulting services for the manufacturing industry at Mallett Technology.

 

  • When selecting a consultancy, manufacturing businesses should make sure that the manufacturing consulting firms are not involved in reciprocal vendor relationships. A manufacturing consulting firm without vendor tie-ins is focused purely on the client's interests, rather than on a product sales pitch.