Probably the most asked question every engineering consultant gets asked is precisely that; so, what does an engineering consultant do? It would appear this role is taken on by a wide range of specialist engineers acting only in advisory or overseeing capacities, but while that covers some of what we do – it’s not the whole story.
We’re going to unpack what that role looks like today and how having one on your team when it’s time for your project management to kick off at full tilt, you’ll discover just how practical that level of leadership and expertise can be.
Engineering consultants combine expertise, experience and valuable practical skills that are highly transferable to your precision engineering projects. They are responsible for the provision of accurate and valuable engineering advice.
Advice informed from working on various projects throughout their life means that they bring a diversity of engineering skills to your projects.
Engineering consultants can offer massive value in fields as diverse as:
Electronics and Information Technology (I.T)
Medical and pharmaceutical
Aerospace
Marine
Research and development
Scientific
Motorsports
Automation and robotics
Understanding the intricacies of individual contracts and projects is at the heart of engineering consulting. Frequently, the process of reverse engineering from the desired result working backwards to the beginning is how engineers will arrive at processes and procedures that empower successful outcomes.
Engineering Consultancy Focus
As Precision Engineers, our focus is on working with customers to design and produce low-volume components, products, models, and prototypes. Each of these elements requires a fast turnaround time or are perhaps difficult to manufacture at all.
Offering critical industrial support, a comprehensive range of engineering services encompass mechanical design, precision component CNC machining, assembly and rapid prototyping.
In essence, an Engineering Consultant specialises in working on short-term projects. These projects are undertaken for various clients with unique service footprints and requirements.
Engineering Consultants are usually brought onto projects with specific goals in mind and work on a dedicated project. After the project, the consultant moves on to the next client and the next project.
So, what does this all mean for you as a prospective client? How does it make more sense to retain a consultant instead of an in-house or dedicated engineer? Each of these has its strong points, but we’ll continue focusing on consulting.
Typically, here’s what you could expect from your precision engineering consultant:
Advise on the best way to commence new engineering projects, map out feasibility, create cost plans and budgets, and deliver time scales.
Creating project plans that include mapping out the processes for each task and outcome, risk assessments and quality control and then leading a team that might be made up of designers, technical engineers, site managers, construction workers, other specialist consultants, financial managers and project managers.
Managing the project from end to end and delivering a turnkey service. They oversee processes and liaise with all parties to carefully manage and control the project, and it’s at this point they draw on their diverse set of experiences and skills.
They’ll also be physically present on-site at projects, coordinate and run team meetings and manage team members and then complete all of the administration and paperwork as and when required.
In addition to all these tasks, engineering consultants are also responsible for managing the flow of communications between the actual project sites and teams and the managers and leadership of clients' companies.
It is an inherent requirement of all engineering consultants and professionals to have a current and updated knowledge of all health and safety laws, regulations, and certifications according to each project they’re working with. In some cases, there are legal requirements for reporting and certification too.
Considering your project as a comprehensive and fully integrated, outcomes-oriented concept, your consulting engineer is responsible for deconstructing the entire project. Then carefully and meticulously working designers, architects, and whoever else is necessary to bring about the completion of your project.
Each process is carefully designed, implemented and then managed through to completion, with the engineer taking ultimate responsibility for the project’s success.
We specialise in the areas of CNC Machining, precision engineering, large CNC Milling, product design, rapid prototypes and engineering consulting.