Frequently Asked Questions

We start with a short, fixed-scope diagnostic , not a long-term transformation. This initial engagement typically lasts 3–4 weeks and focuses on understanding your current state. We walk the shop, trace information flow, identify bottlenecks, and clarify responsibility gaps. At the end, you receive a clear, prioritized roadmap and decide what , if anything , comes next.

Connected Fabrication Solutions helps fabrication shops regain control of their operations by identifying where time, money, and effort are being lost due to broken information flow, unclear ownership, and inefficient shop layouts. We focus on how work actually moves through your shop, not how procedures say it should, and help leadership make clear, prioritized decisions based on reality.

Tell us your biggest problem. We’ll start there and build upward.

We typically work with structural steel and pipe fabrication shops in the 30–100 employee range that are growing, stressed, or recovering from a painful event. This often includes shops dealing with rework, missed schedules, audit fatigue, rapid hiring, or systems that haven’t kept up with growth.

We start with recommendations. Many clients ask us to stay on and help implement changes once priorities are clear, but implementation is always optional. Our first job is to give you clarity and confidence before you invest time, money, or energy into changes.

No. Our approach is observational and collaborative. We are not there to slow the shop down, introduce new tools, or create extra work during the diagnostic phase. We work around production and focus on learning how your shop already operates.

No. We are tool-agnostic. Most shops already have more tools than clarity. Our role is to help you understand what information you need, where it should live, and what can safely be ignored , before introducing or changing systems.

A full-time hire comes with assumptions, politics, and ramp-up time. We provide an objective, outside perspective without internal baggage. Because we are temporary and focused, we can surface issues that are often invisible or uncomfortable internally.

Initial diagnostic engagements are typically a fixed fee, scoped upfront, so there are no surprises. Follow-on support, if requested, is discussed separately based on need, duration, and scope.

We don’t promise miracles. We promise clarity. Clients consistently tell us that the biggest value comes from finally understanding where effort is being wasted, what problems actually matter, and what can wait. That clarity alone often unlocks immediate improvement.

This is operational consulting focused on fabrication systems, information flow, and execution. Inspection services are handled separately when required and appropriate.

Most shops don’t have a single big problem — they have many small ones compounding each other. We help uncover issues such as:

Information being re-entered, delayed, or lost between estimating, production, QC, and shipping

Bottlenecks caused by layout, sequencing, or unclear priorities

Double handling and unnecessary movement in the shop

Processes that technically exist but aren’t followed because ownership is unclear

Decisions being made without reliable data

The goal is not to fix everything , it’s to fix the right things first.

If after the diagnostic you decide not to move forward, you still leave with clarity you can act on internally.

QC Core™ is a lightweight, practical quality-tracking tool designed to simplify inspections, NDE requirements, weld data, and material traceability without the overhead of traditional systems.

We provide QC Core free during a consultation because accurate, accessible QC data is the foundation of a connected fabrication shop. You can begin using it immediately at no cost to improve accuracy, reduce paperwork, and streamline inspection workflows.

Because we developed the software ourselves, QC Core can be expanded, customized, and adapted to match your specific workflow, codes, and shop environment. The system is designed to fit how fabrication actually happens, not force your operation into someone else’s template.