The BAC Retainer Model
Embedded Systems Architecture Advisory
Without Adding Headcount
Bunn Automation Consulting (BAC) provides ongoing, embedded systems architecture support to OEMs and manufacturers who need senior-level technical guidance without expanding permanent staff.
Rather than engaging on a single project with fixed scope and deliverables, BAC operates as a long-term advisory partner—supporting front-end loading, system architecture, and cross-vendor alignment across multiple initiatives.
The objective is simple:
Help organizations make better automation decisions earlier, when risk is lowest and flexibility is highest.
Why the Retainer Model Exists
In complex automation environments, risk is rarely created during execution. It is created during early decisions:
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Incomplete requirements
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Unclear system boundaries
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Vendors designing in isolation
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Architecture defined too late
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Procurement commitments made without full systems visibility
Traditional project-based consulting often begins after these decisions are already locked in.
The BAC retainer model ensures senior-level systems perspective is present while decisions are still forming.
What the Retainer Provides
Under a retainer, BAC serves as an embedded systems architecture partner, working alongside your internal team across planning, procurement, implementation, and integration phases.
Typical areas of support include:
1. Front-End Loading (FEL)
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Requirements clarification
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System boundary definition
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Identification of integration constraints
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Risk visibility before procurement
2. System Architecture & Interfaces
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Control architecture strategy
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Data flow and timing considerations
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Interface ownership definition
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Cross-discipline alignment
3. Vendor-Neutral Technical Alignment
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Facilitating discussions between machine builders and integrators
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Reviewing technical proposals for architectural consistency
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Identifying gaps between vendor assumptions
4. Ongoing Decision Support
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Participation in design reviews
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Trade study guidance
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Escalation support for technical conflicts
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Continuity across overlapping initiatives
The focus is not on producing isolated deliverables.
The focus is on improving the quality and clarity of design decisions.
How This Differs from Project-Based Consulting
Traditional Project Model
Fixed scope engagement
Defined deliverables
Begins after scope is written
Ends when project ends
Often vendor-aligned
BAC Retainer Model
Flexible, evolving support
Decision-driven involvement
Engages while scope is forming
Provides continuity across phases
Independent and vendor-neutral
The retainer aligns incentives around long-term system performance, not short-term scope completion.
What the Retainer Is Not
To ensure clarity, the BAC retainer is not:
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Staff augmentation
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Temporary engineering resource replacement
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A turnkey integrator engagement
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Brand-specific implementation work
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A substitute for your internal engineering team
BAC strengthens internal teams and aligns external vendors—without displacing ownership.
When a Retainer Is a Strong Fit
The model works best for organizations that:
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Have lean or stretched internal engineering teams
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Manage multiple automation vendors simultaneously
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Run recurring or overlapping automation initiatives
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Require architectural continuity across programs
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Want senior systems insight without adding permanent headcount
If your team frequently revisits earlier decisions due to late-stage discoveries, the retainer typically delivers measurable value.
How Organizations Realize ROI
Retainer value is not measured by hours consumed, but by:
Reduced late-stage rework
Clear vendor responsibility boundaries
Fewer integration surprises
More confident procurement decisions
Improved internal engineering focus
Early alignment reduces downstream cost.
Engagement Structure
Retainers are structured as ongoing monthly engagements that provide predictable access to systems-level architecture support.
Specific scope evolves with organizational priorities, but the model ensures:
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Continuity
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Context retention
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Strategic technical perspective
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Availability when decisions arise
The intent is long-term partnership, not transactional project execution.
How to Begin
The first step is a short discovery discussion to determine:
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Where integration risk currently exists
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How automation & systems architecture decisions are being made
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Whether embedded systems support would improve outcomes
If there is alignment, the retainer structure can be tailored to fit current initiatives.