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• 3/7/2009 12:43 PM Dale Dell'Ario wrote:
  

  The chief benefit of working with an independent consultant is cost. Overhead is much lower and expertise can be as good or perhaps better, all depending on the match between experience and your requirement. The other potential benefit is speed, though in this economy, there are likely to be plenty of design firms looking for work.
  
  Design firms offer multiple disciplines and this is a strength. However, many design independents have strong networks and can either refer you to those practicing other disciplines or arrange for them and pass the cost through by bidding on the entire project.
  
  You should look for a strong CV with lots of overlap in experience, to your business, and then importantly check out the independent's personality fit to you. Will you get along? Do they have references? All of this is of course basic stuff but harder to really check when dealing with a firm of many players.
  
  Check out the tool set of the consultant too, to be sure they have not only the skill but the requisite equipment or software to help you with their task.
  
  Finally, see if they have any significant project management experience, including on the documentation side. This last is critical for CE and medical products.

  
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