Individuals Offering Consulting Help

I would be happy to help. I think I could make a valuable contribution. Unfortunately I am not an engineer and have no hands on experience designing a plant. But I'll work cheap and confidential.

Forgive me if I hijack this thread to ask a different question. How do I become a consultant?

I've always been very good at problem solving and reasoning things out. I usually see the 'Big Picture', know what questions to ask and where to find the answers. I have a wide range of technical interests that has kept me from focusing on 1 specialty. I continue to feed a lifelong hunger for learning, attending any training programs available to me, reading books and the internet, tinkering in the garage. I can't afford to devote 4+ years of my life to a full degree program now. I may not have that many good years left but I feel a need to contribute my skills to the world. It would be terrific to have a project I worked on be useful to people long after I am not. I've considered going into business for myself but I know from my experience as a restaurant manager that running day to day operations numbs my brain. I enjoyed being a mechanic and repair technician for Best Buy. But a 20ft fall through a ceiling left me disabled enough that I couldn't do that anymore. I suppose the best evidence to recommend me as a consultant would be the advice I've offered here and on other forums.

So what do you think? Who would hire a guy like me? Where can I find other guys(and gals) like myself?

Dustin

I AM AVAILABLE AS YOUR idea-to- engineering translator.

"How do I become a consultant?"

Often it is forced upon one by firms downsizing. The temporary employment market is buoyant in the UK at the moment. There are risks (e.g. no contract) as well as rewards (+35% to +100% compared to a staff arrangement).

Been there. Done it. Bored with it. Secondhand T shirt available on eBay...

You misunderstood, I think. I was looking for sources of consultants for a Tiger team on a specific project I head. Thanks anyhow.

Sorry, it was I who misunderstood that U were replying to another post, not mine!

Len: This is in response to your post, your first on CR4. Unfortunately, the forum is supposed to be non-commercial in nature. I, too, wish there were some convenient means by which bona fide consultants and those in need of such services could find each other, but the internet is filled with thousands of sites, blogs, etc., for everyone that hangs out a shingle to do consulting work. Separating the wheat from the chaff in this instance is not easy. I'm paying a search engine expert almost $10,000 to come up within the first three pages for my electronic design business, but anyone, qualified in his field or not can take similar steps, maybe at less cost.

Always ask for a Curriculum Vitae, referrals and other information when looking for a consultant of any type. Contact the references, and if apropos, the National Society of Professional Engineers. In the Curriculum Vitae, see what the consultant has in patents, published material, experience, and what professional organizations he belongs to. Also, spend the money to get a Dunn & Bradstreet report, as they do keep records of sole practioner consultants. Judgements against a consultant apparently stemming from carelessness or incompetence should be a warning flag. Conversely, a bankruptcy can happen to anyone due to business conditions. I had that happen to a 10 person business I had after the telecom crash, because I had to pay staff people hefty salaries to keep them (Mercedes-Benz cars were being given to software people as sign-on bonuses in the late 90's by larger employers). But more than one bankruptcy in 10, 25, or even 40 years should be considered suspect.

Any consultant worth his salt will give you a cursory description in general terms of the way in which he will solve the problem, and perhaps one example of a specific step in the process. That should be contained within a professional appearing proposal, which also contains terms, conditions, a more or less standard consulting agreement and pro forma NDA. But don't expect the solution or design effort beyond that point to be free.

Good luck.

Bernie Katz

Thanks--and I agree with your assesment. Do you kmow of any sites that list or can lead me to consultants offering thier services (caveat emptor --and all) in high speed rigid package fabrication, positioning, then followed by loading of granular substances?

Len: I would look up and contact the local chapter of the ASME. I know that the IEEE has consultant's groups on a local basis, and would think the same to be true of the ASME. If that fails, write back to me, privately if you wish, and I'll see what I can uncover via networking.

Bernie K

Thanks--will do.

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All above can be had from standard Vendors.

If you want something unique I am at mikemahant@hotmail.com

Try:

www.guru.com

I am a member there and it is a good resourse.

Stephan

www.bradleyventures.com

Thanks! Does indeed look useful

I already offer these services:

www.innovation2survive.com

Welcome.