Consultants Can Offer Free Advice to Get Things Cooking
Q: I have created a unique confectionery product, field-tested it, assembled a packaged ingredients source, established a production process and lined up potential buyers. I am stalled at the baking operation, unable to find equipment that will turn out the product to my specifications. Who can I talk to for help?
--Richard M. Dorsey,
Hacienda Heights
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A: The production equipment you are referring to is likely to be so specialized that it would be difficult to advise you without seeing your plant in person. The nonprofit California Manufacturing Technology Center provides consultants to start-up and established manufacturers as part of its mandate to help California’s manufacturers become more efficient and competitive. I’d suggest you contact our office and have an engineer stop by your plant to make a recommendation that would help you with your production needs.
CMTC engineers and consultants help entrepreneurs with new product design, ordering new machinery or equipment and setting up their production process. They can give you leads on what kinds of equipment you need and where to search for it at the best prices. A basic consultant’s visit and a limited amount of research are provided for free. Additional consulting help is available for a low fee.
The CMTC is funded jointly by the California Trade and Commerce Agency, the California Employment Training Panel, the California Community Colleges, the Centers for Applied Competitive Technologies and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The group is headquartered in Hawthorne and has seven regional offices around the state. Call the main office number, (800) 300-CMTC, for more details.
--Alex Domaszewicz, mechanical engineering consultant, California Manufacturing Technology Center, Hawthorne
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Q: I work in the telecommunications industry and would like to start my own business as a consultant for businesses that want their telephone bill inquiries resolved but don’t have the time to talk with the telephone company. Would it be a conflict of interest if I started this business while still employed in this industry?
--Name withheld by request,
Los Angeles
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A: couple of issues arise here. First, does your employer currently offer dispute resolution services to businesses at no charge? Does your current job include providing those dispute resolution services? If so, I see a definite conflict of interest and would encourage you to sever your employment before offering your services as a consultant. You don’t want to set yourself up to be in competition with your employer while you are still an employee. As a consultant, it is your responsibility to be impartial and to give your clients the best possible advice and service. Customers will ask you about other services available to them. Could you, in all fairness, recommend alternative carriers if your main income were derived from the telephone company where you are currently employed? What repercussions would this have on your employment and your reputation as an employee? If you are serious about consulting, do it. With a background in the industry and a little marketing savvy, you should be able to launch a successful career as a consultant.
--Mindy Prowler,
founder/president, Cellular
Billing Consultants,
Thousand Oaks
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If you have a question about how to start or operate a small business, mail it to Karen E. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 1333 S. Mayflower Ave., Suite 100, Monrovia, CA 91016, or e-mail it to kklein6349@aol.com. Include your name, address and phone number. This column should not be construed as legal advice.
