That's the problem - not suggesting wrongdoing in this case, but you can see why people think of consultants as "industrial espionage on an industrial scale". Figured out something great at your company - well, if the consultant spots it, they'll package it up and sell it to your competitor. This stifles innovation and, in extreme circumstances, aligns competitors into a de-facto cartel.

At my workplace, there are some functions that are entirely off limits for consultants to prevent this.