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Manufacturing and Engineering Consultants
Manufacturing consulting is concerned mainly with improving the efficiency of plant operations through technological or process improvements. The complexity of manufacturing processes varies by industry, but all industries invest heavily in optimizing operations. Globally, the largest manufacturers are in the oil and petroleum-derived products industry, followed by automotive and then food production.
Technology plays a large role in manufacturing operations, where automation is used for the majority of tasks, so manufacturing consultants typically have backgrounds in engineering. However, machinery is not the only concern of manufacturers. The pricing and supplies of raw materials, planning for customer demand, and managing a manufacturing workforce are all important issues, and manufacturers must address them continuously. Some other concerns of manufacturers include energy efficiency, product safety, and worker safety.
As companies continuously pursue increased quality and speed of manufacturing while attempting to drive down costs, manufacturing consultants play an important role by synthesizing global best practices and bringing them to client engagements. Consultants will have training in one or both of the major approaches to manufacturing, lean manufacturing and Six Sigma. Lean manufacturing, which was coined in the 1990s, was inspired by Toyota's management practices in its automotive plants. It is a set of tools for planning and optimizing manufacturing that concerns itself with reducing waste. Waste can be defined as unnecessary work, excess inventory, and a number of other factors that are not considered to add value. Lean manufacturing consultants help design simplified manufacturing processes, and implement practices for continuous improvement in the plant. Six Sigma is a strategy to maintain quality in manufacturing by reducing variation and defective outputs. It originated at Motorola in the 80s, referring to the 99.99966% defect-free product output set as the goal. Six Sigma specialists or "Black Belts" lead the design and implementation of a set of practices to bring about this goal in a manufacturing facility. There are several Six Sigma certifications available, and likely to be held by manufacturing consultants.
Companies may also bring in manufacturing consultants to help develop a manufacturing strategy, a task that becomes more complex every year as new variables arise concerning geography, technology, and raw materials. While the trend for manufacturers has been to move operations to lower-cost countries, particularly in Asia, each individual case requires careful analysis. Political risk, supply chain security, and projected increases in labor costs are all factors that manufacturing consultants consider in designing a strategy for their clients. These consultants will have a strong business background that provides a toolkit for assessing each option and making projections for the future.
In recent years, energy use in manufacturing has become a hot topic, as rising energy costs and environmental concern put pressure on companies to reduce consumption. Many companies are also implementing initiatives to obtain some part of their energy from clean or renewable sources, in order to satisfy government regulations, address stakeholder concerns, or benefit from subsidies. There is thus increasing demand for manufacturing consultants specializing in industrial energy efficiency. Typically these consultants will have an engineering background, as well as a knowledge of business operations that allows them to consider the big-picture implications of process enhancements and cost reductions.
MBA and Company has worked with manufacturing consultants and clients in a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, electronics and FMCG. Whether you are looking to set up a new plant in China or increase energy efficiency in your North American operations, MBA & Company can help you engage the right consultants from our global network. And if you are a manufacturing expert in any area, MBA & Company provides access to a variety of short term projects to leverage your background and enhance your experience. Sign up today!
