It is advisable to outsource strength calculation when internal resources or specialised expertise are not sufficient to meet the technical requirements of a project. Outsourcing makes sense in situations where strength calculations are needed irregularly, when a project requires specific expertise or when there is a need to optimise costs and speed up product development. When done right, outsourcing gives a company access to excellence without the need to hire in-house experts or invest in expensive software.
Outsourcing the strength calculation – what is it all about?
Strength calculus is a branch of engineering that analyses the ability of materials and structures to withstand the forces and loads applied to them. It is a critical part of product development and mechanical engineering, ensuring the safety, functionality and durability of products and structures.
In outsourcing, the company delegates the implementation of the strength calculation to an external expert organisation. In practice, this means that the company uses the specialist knowledge, software and resources of an external service provider to perform the necessary calculations and analyses. This can cover everything from simple strength calculations to complex Finite Element Method (FEM) analyses.
In mechanical and production engineering, strength calculation is particularly important because it:
- Ensures the safety and reliability of products
- Helps optimise material use and costs
- Allows you to verify the effectiveness of innovative solutions
- Supports product development and reduces the need for prototypes
- Often part of mandatory documentation and certification
Outsourcing is a strategic decision whereby a company focuses on its core competences and outsources the activities that require specialised expertise, which at best improves efficiency and competitiveness.
When should a company consider outsourcing its strength calculation?
It makes sense for a company to consider outsourcing strength calculations, especially when the need is not continuous or when projects require specialised expertise that cannot be found within the organisation. Outsourcing offers a flexible solution to varying needs.
Clear signs of the need for outsourcing include:
- Lack of resources – The company does not have enough in-house engineers or their time is taken up by other tasks
- Irregular need – Strength calculations are only needed occasionally for specific projects
- Lack of specialised expertise – Complex analyses require specific expertise or software
- Schedule pressures – Critical projects need to be completed quickly
- Pursuing cost-effectiveness – It does not make economic sense to hire expensive software licenses and specialists
Outsourcing is also justified when a company faces new technical challenges or wants to validate its own calculations. In many cases, an external expert also brings new perspectives and solutions that can improve product quality and innovation.
Outsourcing is particularly useful for projects that require specialised analytical methods such as non-linear computation, oscillatory analysis or thermal analysis, which require both specialised skills and expensive software.
What are the benefits of outsourcing strength calculation for your company?
There are several significant benefits for companies to outsource their cost accounting, the most important of which are access to specialised expertise and cost efficiency. Expert partners bring in-depth expertise to projects that may not be available in-house.
Concrete benefits include:
- Cost savings – No need to invest in expensive software or hire full-time experts for irregular needs
- Flexibility – Resources can be used exactly when they are needed
- Maintaining focus – Allowing the company to concentrate on its core competencies and strategic activities
- Improved quality – Specialised professionals produce accurate and reliable calculations
- Faster turnaround – Experts are often able to carry out calculations efficiently and quickly
- Minimising risks – Professional calculations reduce errors and design risks
Outsourcing can also provide a competitive advantage by speeding up product development cycles and optimising design solutions more efficiently. By professionally performing strength calculations at the initial design stage, costly changes at later stages can be avoided.
In addition, outsourcing often brings a broader perspective, as the service provider has experience in different industries and different applications. This can lead to more innovative solutions and better outcomes.
How to choose the right partner for outsourcing your strength calculation?
Choosing the right partner to outsource strength calculation is critical to the success of the collaboration. The right service provider should combine technical expertise, industry knowledge and smooth communication. These factors are worth paying particular attention to in the selection process.
The main selection criteria are:
- Proven skills – Check references and previous projects in similar industries
- Technical expertise – Make sure your partner has the right skills to meet the specific requirements of your sector
- Calculation software and methods used – Find out if your partner uses industry-standard tools
- Quality of documentation – A good partner produces clear and comprehensive accounting reports
- Communication and responsiveness – Effective communication is essential for the success of a project
- Confidentiality and secrecy – Your partner must respect your company’s intellectual property rights
It is also important to assess your partner’s ability to understand your business sector and specific needs. A good partner can ask the right questions and can “translate” technical results into practical recommendations for action.
When choosing a partner, it is worth asking for sample calculations or a pilot project to assess how the cooperation works in practice. This will help ensure that the results and reports produced by the partner meet your company’s needs and expectations.
Summary: Outsourcing strength calculation as part of a company’s strategy
At its best, outsourcing your strengths-based accounting is a strategic choice that supports your company’s competitiveness and allows you to focus on your core business. When done right, it provides flexible access to specialist expertise when you need it.
When deciding to outsource, it is important to assess:
- Your own organisation’s skills and resources in relation to needs
- The criticality of strength calculation in product development and product safety
- Cost impacts in the long term
- Suitability of potential partners to the company’s needs
Technical consultancy and specialised strength calculations can significantly speed up product development and improve the quality of end products. When calculations are carried out professionally and efficiently, costly design errors and prototype runs can be avoided.
Successful outsourcing requires a clear definition of objectives, good communication and a trusting working relationship. When these factors are in place, outsourcing strength calculations can be a significant competitive advantage and support a company’s growth and innovative capacity.
