Business Consulting 

 

Medium & Large Scale
Engineering Businesses

We all know that thousands of books have been written by "management gurus" aimed at helping managers to create dynamic, process-orientated, efficient businesses.  We all understand that beneath the hype there are often some sound, common-sense ideas in these books, but the real question is: how do we put them into practice whilst managing the day-to-day operations of the company?

TecExec Business Consulting is targeted at just this problem.  By supporting customers in developing strategic and tactical plans and also helping with implementation, TecExec is focused on delivering higher revenues and profitability for the customer.  Key to the TecExec way of working is allowing the customer to get a clear perspective of their own organisation and then helping them to make necessary changes in a measurable, systematic way.   A key lesson of the 1990's was that any improvement to an organisation or its business must be carefully planned and managed if it is not to be an expensive disaster.  Moreover, tinkering with an organisation just for the sake of it is a dangerous and usually unprofitable exercise - something for which external consultants are often justifiably criticised.

The TecExec approach is different to that of most external consultants as we are practical engineers first and commercial and managerial experts second.  This gives us an insight into the real core of the business - what is important and what is not.  Furthermore, we prefer to work on intensive, short-term, fixed-price projects rather than on long-term "synergistic" relationships.  Although this is an unfashionable idea in the consulting industry, we believe it is the only way for a customer to determine and then realise the financial benefits of a particular initiative.  The poor image of the consulting industry has, in our view, largely been due to long-term attachments to clients compromising the effectiveness and efficiency of the consultants and delivering poor value to customers.

The question most often asked of consultants is: "why should I hire a consultant and not just implement changes myself?"  Our experience allows us to answer this question directly:

  • Managing the day-to-day operations of the business whilst trying to perform any significant improvements is very difficult and rarely successful

  • A key aspect of improvement is the management of change which is a different skill to regular operational management - very few individuals can manage both and it is almost impossible to do from a single position within an organisation

  • Politically, change is much easier for an organisation to accept if it is motivated by external forces - it is hard for an organisation to change from within by itself, particularly if difficult and painful decisions need to be made.

  • Hiring consultants is often seen as management weakness.  This is unfair.  Actually the weakness is in not kicking them out when their work is done - this is why unfocused long-term consultancy for improvement is not advisable.

Please contact TecExec for more information and a free consultation if you wish to know more about our services.

Startups & Small Engineering Businesses

Taking the first steps in business can be a daunting affair.  The real problem is in getting sound, impartial advice without a major financial outlay at a time when the business is only just getting off the ground.  It is true that there are many sources of help around; Business Links, Chambers of Commerce, banks and so on, but very few of these will help you to develop a vision and strategy to achieve your aims or can claim to be entirely impartial.

As engineers and businessmen with a wide range of experience and backgrounds, TecExec consultants can provide a range of services through Venture Partnering operations or on a fixed-price or retainer basis, including:

  • Business Planning - helping to shape your thinking and develop the plan as well as actually writing it.  Contrary to what most people expect, normally 80% of the work goes into the planning and only 20% into the writing.

  • Strategic Reviews - periodic checks and reviews of progress against business plans and adjustments to strategy and tactics.

  • Non-Executive Directorship - key consultants can be hired on a retainer basis to sit on the Board and offer both commercial and technical advice during decision-making processes. (This service is discretionary on the part of TecExec).

  • Interim Management - during periods of rapid business growth or absence of key personnel, TecExec can provide highly competent hands-on managers to bridge the gaps and bring a fresh perspective to the organisation.

Please contact TecExec for more information and a free consultation if you wish to know more about our services.

 

 
         

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