Often companies with FEA capability will temporarily expand their capacity by hiring consultants for special projects or in periods of high work loads as an economical alternative to hiring permanent staff. For most manufactures, hiring a consultant, to perform FEA work , is a far more economical choice. A good consultant will perform an analysis accurately and efficiently. Due to the considerable experience that is amassed by specializing in this field considerable expertise can be brought to bear for the client's benefit. Unfortunately, the costs of hiring consultants can be confusing.
Consultants charge a wide-ranging hourly fee.
Obviously, a consultant whose hourly rate is half, but charges for three times the number of hours, costs more. Add to this the need to have confidence that the person performing your important analysis is qualified and professional, choosing the right consultant is extremely important.