Securing Scarce Legacy Expertise to Protect Manufacturing Operations

A manufacturing organisation operating a highly business-critical legacy system environment, with core operational dependency on AS400 (IBM i).

The system supports day-to-day manufacturing and operational processes and remains central to the business despite broader modernisation initiatives.

Market context

Across manufacturing and industrial sectors, legacy platforms such as AS400 continue to underpin critical operations.

However, the availability of experienced AS400 specialists has declined sharply. Many organisations face a growing risk gap where:

• Systems remain essential
• Internal knowledge has eroded
• Replacement programmes are long-term or uncertain
• External expertise is increasingly difficult to secure

When issues arise, the challenge is not recruitment. It is speed, accuracy, and continuity.

This engagement sat directly in that reality.

Business challenge

The client required urgent specialist support to investigate, diagnose, and resolve complex issues within their AS400 environment.

This was a live operational dependency.

Without immediate access to a capable AS400 consultant, the organisation faced:

• Prolonged system instability

• Increased operational risk

• Dependency on limited internal knowledge

• Potential disruption to manufacturing processes

The requirement was further constrained by:

• The niche and aging nature of the technology
• The need for on-site availability in Amsterdam
• The consultant supporting the engagement alongside an existing role
• A longer internal approval and onboarding process due to global governance

This made the available talent pool exceptionally small.

Why Recann

Recann were engaged as an existing partner, based on prior successful delivery and our ability to operate effectively in highly niche and constrained technology markets.

The focus was not volume. It was precision.

The client needed one person with the right experience, availability, and problem-solving capability.

The Delivery Approach

This was treated as a targeted specialist search rather than a traditional recruitment exercise.

Key elements included:

• Immediate engagement with niche AS400 consultant networks
• Rapid qualification focused on real troubleshooting and diagnostic capability
• Validation of availability alongside an existing position
• Managing expectations around timelines due to internal approval processes
• Maintaining consultant engagement throughout a longer decision cycle

An initial shortlist was delivered within 12 hours of requirement confirmation.

Despite extended onboarding timelines, Recann maintained momentum and alignment across all stakeholders until completion.

The Outcome

A highly experienced AS400 consultant based in the Netherlands was successfully engaged on an initial six-month contract.

The consultant brought:

• Deep hands-on AS400 expertise
• Proven problem-solving capability in live environments
• The ability to operate independently in a complex legacy landscape

Early feedback has been very positive, with the client expressing strong satisfaction with both the consultant’s performance and the delivery process.

The engagement helped stabilise a critical system environment and reduce immediate operational risk.

Recann’s Value In This Engagement

• Access to extremely scarce legacy technology expertise
• Ability to deliver under urgent operational pressure
• Speed of shortlisting without compromising quality
• Experience managing complex onboarding constraints
• Proven capability in high-risk, low-visibility technology domains

Summary

As organisations continue to rely on legacy platforms that remain mission-critical, access to specialist expertise becomes a key factor in operational resilience.

This engagement demonstrates how Recann supports manufacturing organisations by securing rare, high-impact skills that protect business continuity where replacement is not immediately possible.

Looking to secure specialist technology expertise in a constrained market?

Get in touch to learn how we support organisations with critical delivery challenges.