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Automation Consultant: Why and When Should You Bring in an External Expert?

  • Writer: Alex
    Alex
  • 25 minutes ago
  • 2 min read

In today’s rapidly evolving industrial environment, companies must maintain reliable, high-performance equipment. Yet hiring a qualified in-house automation engineer is not always possible, and some projects require deeper, specialised skills. This is where the automation consultant becomes a strategic partner, supporting short-term missions or long-term engagements to strengthen your industrial performance.


When should you bring in an automation consultant?

When your projects become too complex

Multi-PLC integrations, platform migrations (Siemens → Schneider, Rockwell → Beckhoff), or implementing industrial networks require expertise difficult to maintain internally.An expert reduces risks and speeds up technical validation.


During equipment upgrades or modernization

Obsolete PLCs, outdated HMIs, mis-adapted drives, missing traceability…A consultant will:

  • perform a complete technical audit,

  • propose a migration strategy,

  • lead commissioning,

  • optimise cycle times.

This is ideal for securing your system without long production downtime.


When internal resources are insufficient

Many factories lack experienced automation engineers.Outsourcing allows you to scale your engineering capacity without recruitment.


To improve productivity and reduce production costs

An external expert quickly identifies bottlenecks:

  • poor motion synchronisation,

  • inefficient sequence programming,

  • excessive energy usage,

  • under-optimized safety architecture (SIL / PL).

These improvements often generate 10–25% performance gains within weeks.


For designing and commissioning a special machine

Automation is a core component of any special-purpose machine.

A consultant helps you:

  • define the technical specification,

  • select the right PLC platform (Siemens, Beckhoff, Schneider, Rockwell…),

  • design the software architecture,

  • handle commissioning and fine-tuning.


Advantages of hiring an external automation expert

✔ Objective, broader perspective

With no internal bias, a consultant rapidly spots hidden inefficiencies.

✔ Full flexibility

Short missions, long-term support, urgent troubleshooting, on-call assistance — entirely on demand.

✔ Immediate cost efficiency

No recruitment, no training, no long-term overhead: you only pay for real delivered value.

✔ Access to best-in-class industry practices

Consultants work across many technologies and industries, continually enriching their expertise.


Typical missions handled by automation consultants

  • PLC programming/modification (Siemens TIA Portal, Schneider EcoStruxure, Beckhoff TwinCAT, Rockwell Studio 5000).

  • Advanced troubleshooting, network diagnostics, packet analysis.

  • Cycle time optimisation.

  • Machine safety compliance (ISO 13849 / IEC 62061).

  • Commissioning of special-purpose machines.

  • Migration of obsolete PLC systems.

  • Long-term on-site technical support.

Some missions naturally evolve into long-term engineering partnerships.


How to choose the right automation consultant

  • Experience in your industry (food, pharma, automotive, plastics…).

  • Mastery of your PLC brands.

  • Verified project references.

  • Ability to document and transfer knowledge.

  • Transparent cost and timeline management.

A good consultant should empower your team, not make you dependent.



Need a quick automation diagnosis?Request a 48-hour technical audit.

Planning a new special machine?Book a pre-study consultation to secure your project.

Your line lacks performance?Ask for a custom optimisation analysis.

 
 
 

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