Manufacturing operations are always in motion. That means when something breaks, it needs to be fixed quickly. Or, when a project is launched, it needs to stay on track. But what happens when you don’t have enough, or the right, internal resources to keep up? Whether due to an open position, a skill gap, or a sudden ramp-up in project activity, manufacturers frequently find themselves needing particularly qualified technical resources, and fast. Instead of stretching your internal resources thin or rushing to hire someone who may not be the right fit, engaging in site augmentation services could be a much better fit.

What Is Site Augmentation?

Site augmentation is a flexible staffing model that allows manufacturers to supplement their teams with skilled experts, without hiring full-time employees. It’s especially useful when there is an unexpected personnel loss, a system requiring unfamiliar skills, or your project team is being stretched too thin during commissioning.

In many cases, hiring a new employee to perform these tasks just isn’t feasible. Company policies may prevent adding headcount, or HR might struggle to match the salary required to bring in the right talent. Site augmentation can provide an immediate, scalable alternative where the new resource seamlessly integrates into your team to perform the required tasks.

When to Consider Site Augmentation

Site augmentation can be an excellent solution for manufacturers in a variety of scenarios. But first, you must understand your needs such as the gaps that exist on your team and the skills that are critical to your success. Some scenarios where site augmentation can be a good solution include:

• Backfilling critical roles temporarily: When you lose a critical team member and can’t replace them quickly.
• Handling project-specific needs: During commissioning, startup, or migration when you need extra hands.
• Filling skill gaps: When a new system or technology requires expertise your team doesn’t yet have.
• Providing ongoing support: When your plant needs reliable, consistent help with day-to-day operations.

Plus, for manufacturers who don’t require a full-time in-house engineer, engaging in site augmentation can be a more cost-effective solution to having reliable access to specialized expertise on a flexible, as-needed basis.

Why Manufacturers Trust ACE for Site Augmentation

At ACE, we not only offer site augmentation, a capability many integrators lack, but we also take a unique team-driven approach. Since our team includes specialists in controls, automation, MES, and cybersecurity, you actually gain access to an entire bench of experts. Because of this, when your team encounters a challenge they haven’t seen before, they’re never on their own as they can tap into the full ACE team for troubleshooting, second opinions, or support on new systems without having to wait for training or outside resources.

Plus, with multiple experts in every area of manufacturing, we can rotate staff in and out of a site based on changing needs. Or, when your assigned engineer takes a vacation or needs time off, we can provide another qualified ACE team member to ensure you’re never without support. It’s a reliable, seamless approach that keeps your operations running every day of the year.

Ready to Strengthen Your Team?

Whether you need expert help next week, or want to plan ahead for an upcoming project, ACE is here to support you with knowledgeable, experienced engineers who can step in and start delivering value on day one.

Let’s connect and explore how site augmentation can help your facility stay agile, productive, and fully supported.