"We don't need no stinkin' consultant...."

Nope. You don't. And you don't need swimming lessons to learn how to swim. Just jump right off the end of the dock. Sooner or later (hopefully sooner), you'll get the hang of it.

Of course, you don't expect to win the Olympics learning to swim that way. And you can't expect to compete in a world-class environment trying to implement AIDC that way.

Sure, you're smart. Sure, you could figure it all out eventually. Read enough books, go to enough seminars, talk to enough vendors.... (When did you say you needed this system?)

All jokes about consultants aside (note: I have my own watch), a knowledgeable consultant can save you a lot of time and money. How? By providing an established base of information on the technologies, their uses, and the horror and success stories of implementation.

That's not to say that the typical view of consultants isn't sometimes merited. We have visited shop floors where workers are surprised that a "suit" is actually listening to them, not telling them they're doing things all wrong. The success of any system (AIDC, management, operations) is dependent on how successfully all the relevant information is gathered, synthesized and applied.

Consultants don't have all the answers. At least, they shouldn't have them when they walk in the door. A good consultant will take the time to understand your business models, corporate culture and work flows.

Here's some (good) free advice: beware those who already have all the answers. Look for those who want to work with you to develop solutions that address your needs.

Whether you hire us...or someone else...outsourcing may be the best way to get things done these days. Consultants bring knowledge, personnel, and experience to the table. We can help keep you on track and on time (it's a very good watch).