Lean Manufacturing - Why hire a consultant?

Lessons To Be Learned
Just In Time

304 Pages, hardcover, 1997
ISBN 0-89806-162-8

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Why Hire A Consultant?

Any growing business ultimately learns this lesson: you can't do everything yourself. Eventually, you have to relinquish some control and depend on the expertise of a consultant. When a company is faced with persistent problems that have not been overcome, hiring a consultant can save time and money by providing the required expertise and guidance.

An expert consultant, will be able to identify and implement the solution to the problem more quickly and efficiently than you or your staff.

You should hire a consultant when:

the problem or situation is short-term.
the problem requires special expertise or experience, that is not available from your current staff.
your organization's financial situation is not favorable toward hiring permanent staff.
your company is facing a major crisis, or seems to be operating in a crisis-management mode.
you need supplemental credibility
an expert witness is required

If your situation fits into any or all of these categories, a consultant's services are probably a worthwhile investment.

Sources: from Succeeding with Consultants: Self-Assessment for the Changing Nonprofit by Barbara Kibbe and Fred Setterberg for The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, published by The Foundation Center.