O C T O B E R 2 0 2 6 | W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
Counsel that counts... 23 Consultants to know
Inside: + Column: Patents & your consultant + WAI Clockwinding tradition continues + Industry news & more
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F E AT U R E
Consultants This WJI feature, last done in 2021, presents 23 industry consultants who hail from 20 firms in five countries, that collectively cover a wide range of industry focuses, with entries from production and technical experts to safety and purchasing. It also includes the perspective of a well-known industry veteran who championed the WAI’s Global Continuous Casting Forum in 2011. By Mark Marselli, WJI contributing editor
Industry consultants: a factoid list shows it is far from simple • Per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, early attrition is high, as about a third of such new entities were no longer operating after two years. Editor’s note: The actual total is likely greater, as it may not include many dormant or low-activity businesses that exist in name only. • Most consultants work with few clients: 58% serve six or fewer clients per year, which makes pipeline volatility a real risk. Consulting Success, consultingsuccess.com. • The one-person-shop model is common: 86.6% of U.S. nonemployer businesses are sole proprietorships, a structure that aligns with the way many independent consultants operate. U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy. • Independent contracting is a significant U.S. work arrangement: In July 2023, 11.9 million Americans—7.4% of employed people—worked as independent contractors in their sole or main job. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Independent work is not solely a sideline: 5.6 million independent professionals earned more than $100,000 in 2025, up 19% from 2024. MBO Partners, mbopartners.com. • Sales and marketing are top consulting pain points: 42% struggle most with sales (converting prospects), 31% with marketing (generating conversations), and 19% with both. Consulting Success. • Common reasons consulting startups fail include scarce early clients, tight cash flow, lack of niche focus, scope creep, pricing pressure, and burnout: issues tied more to business development than technical skill. LaVeena B. Archers, M.Msc, PhD, summarizing BLS and industry data. linkedin.com. • Marketing investment is low: 40% invest $5,000 or less per year in marketing, which limits reach and lead generation. Consulting Success.
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• Fewer than 30% consistently execute a formal marketing strategy, and 70% get zero leads per month from their website. Melissa Liberman, summarizing consultant survey data. melisaliberman.com. • Later-career self-employment is an international pattern: Across OECD countries, self-employment rises sharply after age 60, reaching 27.9% among working women and 44.7% among working men at age 69. OECD Employment Outlook 2025. oecd.org. • Technical consulting often is a late-career pursuit: An IEEE-USA Consultants Fee Survey found a mean respondent age of 57.9, reflecting the many mid- to late-career professionals who move into consulting. IEEE‑USA Consultants Fee Survey insight.ieeeusa.org. • Small firms often stay small: 39% of consultants surveyed used neither employees nor contractors: 46% used contractors but had no full-time employees. Consulting Success. W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
F E AT U R E
Doug & Carole Anton: practical expertise, measurable results For more than 30 years, Doug and Carole Anton of AEM Consulting Group, Inc. have helped organizations improve operations, performance and compliance. Their experience includes wire and cable, aerospace, energetic materials and EV batteries. AEM specializes in the development, implementation and maintenance of Quality Management Systems, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, AS9100, IATF 16949 and Nadcap, including Internal Auditing, and Auditor training and development. AEM’s do-it-yourself templates and kits use its proprietary Scripted Flowchart Process™, developed through years of hands-on implementation. On-site and remote consulting support are also available. The firm applies Lean Enterprise principles to streamline processes, reduce waste and improve productivity. Services include kaizen, setup reduction, kanban, inventory and lead-time reduction, and 5S for manufacturing, warehousing and office operations. Consulting projects are tailored to each client’s goals, challenges and resources. The Antons believe the best consulting relationships are built on three fundamentals: • Respect: Listening first to understand each client’s uniqueness, and treating everyone with professionalism and good humor. • Perspective: Drawing on decades of experience across industries to understand the client’s existing processes to identify practical opportunities for improvement. • Results: Defining clear objectives and measurable outcomes, with fixed-fee projects that keep the focus on value and accountability. Whether working alongside a client’s team on-site or supporting them remotely, Doug and Carole bring preparation, practical expertise and a collaborative spirit to every engagement. Their goal is straightforward: help organizations build systems and processes that work, and deliver results that last.
Doug and Carole Anton AEM Consulting Group, Inc. Rapid City, South Dakota Tel: 605-791-2605 Cell: 541-441-0394 doug@aemconsulting.com anton@aemconsulting.com www.aemconsulting.com
Lloyd Askew: a wealth of electrical problem-solving experience Since 2009, Lloyd Askew Consulting has helped suppliers, manufacturers and other wire and cable industry stakeholders address technical and quality challenges with practical, results-driven support. Most clients are U.S.-based, but the firm also serves international organizations, particularly those expanding into new markets. With more than 40 years of industry experience and leadership roles at several companies, I bring hands-on expertise to each engagement. I help clients improve manufacturing operations, evaluate equipment, strengthen cable designs and quality systems, and resolve recurring issues affecting performance, cost and customer satisfaction. When urgent demands exceed internal resources, I provide responsive support that helps companies reduce disruption and remain focused on business priorities. I break down complex problems, identify contributing factors and use proven analytical tools to develop durable solutions. My work emphasizes root-cause analysis and timely, economical, fact-based recommendations. Improvements may include process optimization, product redesign, test-method refinement and coordinated corrective actions. I work with teams to reduce scrap, recover production time and strengthen customer confidence. Assignments often involve new products, processes or equipment. Beginning with client requirements, I help develop steps and strategies needed to move prototypes and answers to customers quickly and support a return on investment. I also guide companies through industry-approval processes and help implement or strengthen quality-management systems that improve performance, create opportunities and support long-term growth. Services are available remotely by Zoom or other video platforms, or on site when observation, collaboration or hands-on assistance is most valuable. Fees may be structured hourly or by project; initial calls or emails are free. W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
Lloyd Askew Lloyd Askew Consulting Ludlow, Massachusetts Tel: 413-475-0686 lloyd_askew@ lloydaskewconsulting.com www.lloydaskewconsulting.com
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