Industrial automation is no longer a luxury reserved for multi-billion dollar companies with million-dollar R&D budgets. It is a necessity for staying competitive in today’s global marketplace. More often than not, the ‘how’ to apply automation equipment proves to be the bigger obstacle for most industrial companies.
Many businesses jump into automation projects only to find themselves dealing with inefficient production lines, unexpected manufacturing downtime, integration issues, or a lack of in-house industrial engineering expertise. With so many moving parts, automation can quickly become more of a headache than a solution.
Industrial consulting services can help to turn these issues into simpler and more efficient processes for your company to understand and build upon. From setting up precision automation systems and integrating advanced control technologies to providing expert troubleshooting, contractors bring the specialized technical skills needed to transform your manufacturing operations from disaster into profitable machines.
Take control of your workflow and let industrial consultants do the heavy lifting for your organization. In this article I will list everything you should know on why industrial consulting services might be just the answer your company needs.
What do industrial consultants do?
Industrial consultants focus on making businesses run smoother by helping to automate various industrial processes. But what exactly does that mean? Below, I summarize the six main phases where industrial consulting support can be useful.
- Concept Development: Companies use industrial consultants to help with new automation layouts or help with bringing concepts to life. Using industrial consulting services, companies can now move faster and are more agile with the added experienced support.
- Testing Or Quality Review: Consultants can be used as a third-party resource for testing and quality reviews. They can review your requirements and procedures to make sure the company meets manufacturing industry standards. They can provide input on how to produce the best possible product.
- Installing Or Integration Of Equipment: Industrial contractors can help set up and configure all the necessary automation machinery and equipment. Automated systems often involve many moving parts, such as industrial robots, conveyors, software, sensors, PLC controllers, switches, and more. An industrial consultant will see to it that all these components work together seamlessly, which is an absolute must for making sure the whole system operates as intended.
- Troubleshooting and Maintenance: Things can and do go wrong with complex automated systems, which is why some companies fail with industrial automation. When that happens, industrial automation contractors step in to identify and fix the issues quickly. Their top priority is getting operations back online as soon as possible, with minimal interruptions and losses.
- System Upgrades: Automation technology doesn’t stand still and is rapidly evolving every year. Contractors help businesses stay ahead by helping identify the latest technology, upgrading existing systems, and fine-tuning current processes to achieve maximum efficiency and productivity.
- Developing Solutions: These industrial contractors work with a company’s engineering staff and other internal teams to improve current automation systems. This could involve a wide range of tasks, including:
- Removing manual processes and adding industrial robots or cobots.
- Implementing automated inspection tools for quality control.
- Collecting real-time data from equipment to track efficiency.
- Reviewing automated processes to improve cycle time.
Why hire industrial consultants for your project?
Staffing decisions on industrial automation projects can make or break a project. Bringing contractors on board who are experienced in your specific industrial sector can be a great business move that pays off in more ways than one. I list my top reasons below:
Cost Savings:
One of the biggest advantages of hiring industrial automation support is cost savings. Unlike full-time employees, contractors work on a project-by-project basis, meaning you only pay for what you need. There’s no need to budget for extra expenses like health insurance, retirement benefits, or paid leave. This can make a huge difference in keeping labor costs down.
Flexibility:
The ability to bring in industrial contractors as needed offers unmatched flexibility. Whether you have a short-term project or need extra hands for specific needs, contractors can be brought on board and released when the work is done. This makes it easy to scale your workforce up or down based on project demands without the hassle of long-term employment commitments.
Specialized Experts:
Industrial automation is a complex field with many areas of specialization. Hiring a contractor often means you get someone who has deep expertise in a specific area, industrial robotics, programmable logic controllers, project management, operating systems, or process improvement. Instead of spending months training a full-time employee, you can tap into a consultant’s skills and insights right away so your project is done right the first time. Here are some examples:
- Robotics Consultant: Contractors who specialize in integrating industrial robotic arms to automate production tasks and manufacturing processes.
- Automation Consultant: These consultants use programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to control processes tailored to your manufacturing needs.
- Software Consultant: Create custom software solutions to control and manage different aspects of your automated production line.
- Engineering Consultant: These consultants will provide support for many different industrial engineering fields, such as welding, electrical, and design engineering.
- Optimization Consultant: Specialists who can analyze machine data and optimize processes to enhance productivity by reducing cycle time and reduce scrap parts.
- IIoT Consultant: An industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) contractor will help with integrating sensors and devices for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.
Faster Project Completion:
Contractors tend to be focused on completing their assigned tasks quickly and efficiently. Since they don’t have the ongoing duties of full-time employees, they can devote their full attention to each requested task. Many consultants have had project management responsibilities in the past, so they are naturally adept at organizing their resources and skills to meet the customer’s goals. This operational efficiency often leads to faster project timelines and allows companies to implement automation solutions faster, all while keeping them ahead of the competition.
Industrial Consulting Services:
In addition to hands-on project work, many industrial automation contractors offer engineering consulting services to help companies make the right decisions from the start. Each pain point and trouble spot is where they try to focus, and by zeroing in on what’s really possible with automation, they help pave the way for a work environment that’s wildly more efficient and productive. These consulting services can also include developing detailed strategies for integrating precision automation, upgrading control systems, and implementing advanced technology.
Full-Time Vs. Consulting Services:
When it comes to engineering staffing solutions for industrial automation projects, businesses often weigh the option of hiring full-time staff versus bringing in industrial contractors. Many argue that hiring full-time professionals is the better route for various reasons, but this perspective doesn’t always hold up. Below, I break down why full-time might seem appealing and why contractors can actually provide more value in many cases.
Hiring full-time professionals: Are they the best choice?
Hiring full-time employees for industrial automation projects can be very beneficial. First, they bring long-term stability to a company. With each new project, they incrementally build their knowledge of the company’s management structure and standardized workflow.
Full-time staff also develop a deep understanding of your day-to-day operations. This often means better, more custom solutions for your facility’s manufacturing needs. Plus, having a dedicated in-house team helps build strong bonds and teamwork within a well-organized company. Employees collaborate easily, stay in sync, and align with the company’s long-term goals.
Why consultants are often a better fit?
Consultants often provide a more flexible and temporary cost-effective solution for industrial automation projects. You only pay for the work you need without the overhead of employee salaries, benefits, and insurance. This makes it easier to adapt your team size based on project demands, bringing people in only when they’re required.
Another major advantage is their specialized technical expertise. Generally, there is no need for lengthy training and onboarding that a full-time hire might require because the consultant has most likely seen these types of projects before. Otherwise, you would not have hired them to do the job.
Plus, contractors are usually focused solely on completing their specific assigned projects, which often leads to tasks being completed faster. Unlike full-time staff, who may be pulled in different directions, industrial contractors give your projects their full attention so you can reach your automation goals more quickly.
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With JOINER Services, finding the right people is quick and hassle-free. Handpicked contractors with a track record of success will join your team, bringing the skills you need to conquer your automation projects. Got a specific project that needs attention or an ongoing hand? JOINER Services makes it easy to bring in the talent you need when you need it so you can keep your staff focused where it belongs, all while getting great temporary support.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Below, I list some common FAQs about industrial consulting services.
