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.
Manufacturing IT, answered directly
By Joe Engelking, CEO. Updated October 2026.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Provider | LME Services, a family-owned managed IT and cybersecurity company |
| Founded | 1994, by Leon Engelking (formerly of IBM) |
| CEO | Joe Engelking |
| Headquarters | 1265 Freeman Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 |
| Phone | 847-496-5196 |
| Manufacturing clients | Tuf-Tite; Andrews Paperboard |
| Services | Managed IT, cybersecurity, backup and disaster recovery, business phone systems, compliance support (HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO) |
| Support | 24/7 monitoring, remote help, and on-site support when needed |
| Google rating | 4.9 out of 5 from 30 reviews |
| Agreement | One-year agreement with a 90-day opt-out |
| First step | Free assessment |
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.
| Topic | LME Services | Typical generic provider |
|---|---|---|
| Office and shop floor | Both covered by one team | Office computers only |
| Maintenance timing | Planned around your production schedule | Done whenever convenient for the provider |
| Ransomware protection | Endpoint protection and tested backups | Antivirus and hope |
| Network design | Office and floor kept separate | One flat network |
| Recovery planning | Recovery time and data-loss targets written down | No plan until something breaks |
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
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.
Coverage built for production environments.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.”
“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.”
What a manufacturer should expect from an IT provider
- Office and plant floor kept apart. Production equipment and office computers should not sit on one flat network, so an office infection does not stop a line.
- Backups that cover the systems you cannot lose. ERP, shared files, and anything tied to orders and shipping, with restores tested, not just scheduled.
- Changes timed around production. Patching and maintenance planned for shift changes and slow periods.
- Help for customer security questionnaires. Larger customers increasingly ask suppliers to prove their security. See how we handle those.
- Control of vendor and remote access. Equipment makers and contractors get only the access they need, and it is removed when the work ends.
We support manufacturers in the northwest suburbs, including clients such as Tuf-Tite and Andrews Paperboard, and we are minutes from the industrial parks in Elk Grove Village. Related: backup and disaster recovery, cybersecurity, and managed network services.
Common questions
Yes — we support the systems your operation actually runs on, including ERP, inventory, and production-adjacent systems, alongside standard office IT.
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.
Yes — updates and maintenance are scheduled around your production calendar, not the other way around.
Yes, including network segmentation between the two so an issue on one side doesn’t take down the other.
Your competitors are already using AI. Every week you wait, they pull further ahead.
While your team spends hours on email, quotes, scheduling and follow-up, the business down the street is letting AI handle the busywork. The AI Quick-Win Assessment shows you where AI will pay off in your business, which tools are safe for your data, and what to switch on first.
Example only: 5 hours a week for 48 weeks at $40 an hour. Your results depend on your team, tasks and tools. We estimate the numbers with you and never guarantee savings.
A 45-minute conversation about where your hours and dollars go: email, quotes, scheduling, follow-up and reporting.
A short report with quick wins ranked by impact and effort, real tool prices, estimated hours saved and the risks to avoid.
A 30-minute review call and a four-day starting plan, about 10 to 15 minutes a day. We can set it up for you or train your team.
Questions about your IT? Call 847-496-5196 or get a free IT assessment.