IT for Manufacturing

Keep the floor running, not just the front office.

Manufacturers can’t afford downtime on the shop floor any more than in the office. We build IT and security that covers both.

Joe Engelking, LME Services
Straight answers

Manufacturing IT, answered directly

By Joe Engelking, CEO. Updated October 2026.

What does managed IT cost for a manufacturer?

We price managed IT as a flat monthly plan based on your people, devices, and what you need to protect, so there is no one-size price. After a short discovery call we send a quote the same day. There are no surprise line items. Service runs on a one-year agreement with a 90-day opt-out.

How should a manufacturer separate office and production-floor networks?

Segment them so a problem in the office, such as a phishing infection, cannot spread to production equipment, and restrict remote access to floor systems. Plan updates and maintenance around production schedules. The goal is that a front-office incident never becomes a line shutdown.

What happens if ransomware hits a manufacturer with no usable backup?

Whatever changed since the last good backup is gone, and no one can recover it. We take calls from owners in exactly this situation. Tested, offsite backups and a documented recovery plan, put in place before an attack, turn a shutdown into a restore.

What recovery targets should a manufacturer set?

Decide how long a line or system can be down, which is the recovery time objective, and how much recent data you can afford to lose, the recovery point objective. Those two numbers drive how often you back up and how fast you must restore, and they should be written down in advance.

Manufacturing IT Services: a specialist provider compared with a generic one
TopicLME ServicesTypical generic provider
Office and shop floorBoth covered by one teamOffice computers only
Maintenance timingPlanned around your production scheduleDone whenever convenient for the provider
Ransomware protectionEndpoint protection and tested backupsAntivirus and hope
Network designOffice and floor kept separateOne flat network
Recovery planningRecovery time and data-loss targets written downNo plan until something breaks
A call we get too often

When ransomware hits and there is no usable backup

We regularly get calls from business owners who have just been hit by ransomware and want us to recover their files. Often there is no backup at all, or the newest one is three months old. We tell them plainly that there is nothing we can do about what is already gone.

Going forward, we can put a real solution in place, with automated backups that are tested so the next bad day is a restore and not a disaster.

Joe Engelking, CEO

IT for Manufacturing

Built for the realities of a production environment.

Production uptime

Downtime on the floor costs more than downtime in an office. We monitor and maintain systems with that reality in mind.

Ransomware-hardened

Manufacturers are one of the most targeted industries for ransomware. We build layered protection specifically against that threat, not generic antivirus.

ERP & shop-floor support

Ongoing support for the ERP, inventory, and production systems your operation actually runs on.

Why it matters

Manufacturers are a top ransomware target.

Attackers know that manufacturers can’t tolerate downtime, which makes them a preferred ransomware target. We build layered protection and tested recovery specifically around that threat, not a generic small-business security package.

Network infrastructure
Production uptime is revenue.

Managed IT for Manufacturers

Shop-floor systems, ERP platforms, and inventory tracking need to run without interruption — a network issue on the floor costs real production hours, not just IT time. We support the systems that keep production moving, from the front office to the shop floor.

Cybersecurity monitoring
Ransomware targets manufacturers because downtime creates maximum pressure.

Cybersecurity for Manufacturers

Manufacturers are increasingly targeted by ransomware specifically because halted production creates urgent pressure to pay. Protecting OT and IT systems together — not just office computers — is essential to keeping your production line running and your data out of attackers' hands.

Server room
A halted production line costs more than IT recovery time.

Backup & Disaster Recovery for Manufacturers

A ransomware attack that stops production doesn't just cost recovery time — it costs missed shipments, contract penalties, and customers who go elsewhere. We build backup and recovery plans around your production systems specifically, not just your office files.

Real businesses we support

Trusted by local businesses.

Andrews Paperboard and Olympia Foods Industries rely on us to keep both office systems and production floor operations running without cross-contamination risk, while Tuf-Tite and Inpres count on ransomware-focused endpoint protection and tested backups built around what real downtime actually costs a manufacturing operation.

What our clients say

Real businesses, real relationships.

“When Joe assigned Ivan as our lead, we felt like we finally had IT solved. Ivan has been with us 24×7 and the team behind him makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.”

David Schuelke
David Schuelke
CEO, Spring Bank Wisconsin

“I can’t say enough great things about LME Services. I’ve trusted them for years with my computer support needs. They are reliable, knowledgeable, and always willing to help.”

Patty Lovelady
Patty Lovelady
Google review
Frequently asked

Common questions

Do you support our ERP and production systems, not just office computers?

Yes — we support the systems your operation actually runs on, including ERP, inventory, and production-adjacent systems, alongside standard office IT.

Why are manufacturers specifically targeted by ransomware?

Attackers know downtime costs manufacturers more than most businesses, which makes them more likely to pay quickly. We build protection and tested recovery specifically around that risk.

Can you work around our production schedule for maintenance and updates?

Yes — updates and maintenance are scheduled around your production calendar, not the other way around.

Do you handle both our office network and shop floor systems?

Yes, including network segmentation between the two so an issue on one side doesn’t take down the other.

Let's talk about your IT.