Q: What are your areas of expertise?
A: My professional experience includes several overlapping fields:
industrial equipment & controls, computerized devices & equipment,
and related manufacturing & construction. This expertise includes
the commercial wrappers that transform technology into business.
Q: What is the best way to contact you?
A: A brief email or phone call describing your situation is the
smoothest way to get a prompt response. Be sure to include your
contact information. Check the
Contacts page
for email and phone info.
Q: How can you consult in such diverse
situations?
A: Engineering and operations consulting often focuses on specific
details common to widely varying circumstances. Therefore, a
consultant with diverse experience can accommodate many situations
that include fields in which he practices. A fictitious example
might involve an industrial automation system within a printing
press. Although the consultant isn't expert in printing equipment,
he can be useful in regard to the computer control system that is
independent of the actual printing technology.
Q: What distinguishes Artzat Consulting
from similar firms?
A: Artzat Consulting works closely with a small client base,
providing fast and personal service when it's most needed. Clients
are often pleasantly surprised by our performance, especially after
disappointments from less reliable consultants. For Intellectual
Property, we're already familiar with Daubert, Graham, and Markman.
We focus on completing a project rather than simply "working on
it." Our references are solid, and our reputation is untarnished. And
we're always anxious to discuss your needs, even if our only service
is to recommend a more appropriate consultant.
Q: What is your consulting
experience?
A: My
consulting career began with the founding of Dataran in 1980, and
continued after Dataran was acquired in 1988. My subsequent
executive career enhanced my consulting capability, while my ongoing
consulting work strengthened my value to the public company. This
dual career was further enriched by teaching at university,
resulting in a unique mix of industry, consulting, and academic
experience that reflects 30+ years of diverse professional
performance..
Q: How do we get started?
A: Following initial contact, we'll review your situation to 1) make certain
there's a good fit, 2) estimate anticipated time and costs (if
possible) and 3) prepare an engagement contract and retainer
invoice. Work will commence immediately after the contract and
retainer are in place.
Q: What is a "PE?"
A: A licensed Professional Engineer (PE) (also referred to as a "Registered
Engineer") is someone having the education and experience required
to legally offer engineering services to the public. Legal
requirements vary slightly among the states, although most offer
reciprocity or comity. Most states also require annual continuing
education. Arthur Zatarain is registered as an Electrical Engineer
in Louisiana, Alabama, California, and Alaska, and also as a Control
Systems Engineer in Louisiana. Artzat Consulting is a licensed
engineering firm in Louisiana. Note that registration in any
particular state is not usually required when providing expert
consulting services unless the matter pertains specifically to
aspects of that state's professional registration.
Q: Do you work on contingency?
A: No. All consulting services are provided by the hour, with a
pre-paid retainer to cover anticipated charges. This is done for the
usual commercial concerns as well as to protect the validity and
sincerity of the consultant's opinions which are never tied to the
outcome of any reports or proceedings.
Q: Can you prepare patents and represent
me at the Patent Office?
A: No. Artzat
Consulting's role is to support patent attorneys and agents in
regard to a patent's underlying technology. In patent parlance, I am
"skilled in the art" of industrial controls, computers, automation,
and electrical/electronic engineering. If required, I can refer
potential clients to a suitable professional for patent preparation,
prosecution, and defense.
Q: Do consult outside of technology and
engineering?
A: Although technology is usually involved, we can assist clients with
commercial and management aspects of a product or business. We can
help an investor evaluate a company's technology in terms of
engineering, operations, manufacturing, marketing, and migration to
newer technologies and processes. And we can help negotiate those
contracts that are waiting on the table as well as those which have
fallen apart. We are fluent in the language of Industry. And, more
importantly, we speak it in plain English.
Q: What is Computer Forensics?
A: Computer Forensics is the art and science of retrieving, validating, and
analyzing information related to a computerized device. Artzat
Consulting has certified training, software, and equipment to
properly handle electronic data according to accepted forensic
practices. These resources are important for situations involving
computer damage, fraud, misuse, and data recovery, and are also
useful for any matter involving computerized information. However,
Artzat Consulting does not offer "first responder" or "data mining"
services which are more efficiently provided by firms with
specialized equipment.