 |
|
Executive Director's Message
by Bob Lowe
My opening request is that you forward this newsletter to everyone in your company. It is beneficial for all of your employees to understand what CSIA is about, especially with the upcoming online community that will exist via our new website. Our hope is that many people in your company will utilize the new website.
Member Survey: You should have received a survey recently via email that is for the benefit of our Partner members (vendors). The intent is to provide them with feedback about the Control Systems Integrator members. This feedback helps them to better serve the CSIA and its CSI members. If you haven't completed the survey yet, I urge someone at your company to complete it as soon as possible. It requires only a few minutes. Speaking for our Partner members, thank you in advance!
New Website update: CSIA will contract with Higher Logic, a software company that specializes in Web 2.0 social networking and media opportunities for non-profits and professional associations. Substantial research and meetings went into the decision and we feel that Higher Logic meets our core needs. Our plan is to develop the website over the next two months and then have a group of about 30 to 40 "champions" start building the content. Then at about the end of 2009 the website will go live for all members to use. And use it you must!
Read more from our Executive Director .
|
Lou Zimmer Gets Roasted at Send-Off
A special recognition dinner was held this past month for former CSIA public relations and marketing guru extraordinaire, Lou Zimmer. Celebrating Lou's accomplishments were his wife, Nina; CSIA Executive Director Bob Lowe and his wife Linda; former Executive Director Norm O'Leary and his wife Joan; and former Chairman Bob Zeigenfuse and his wife Marie.
Lou was the PR contact for CSIA for ten years and played a key role in CSIA's marketing placements, exhibit booths, and Executive Conference materials. In recognition for his work, Lou was presented with "The Thinker" statue and a recitation of a poem/roast written by O'Leary especially for the occasion.
  Left: Zeigenfuse, O'Leary, Zimmer and Lowe.
Right: Lou and his wife, Nina. |
CSIA Member News 
Patti Engineering Awarded Contract with Men's Wearhouse
Patti Engineering Inc., a CSIA-certified member company based in Auburn Hills, Mich., was recently awarded the material handling control system contract for the new Men's Wearhouse tuxedo processing facility in Bakersfield, Calif.
"We've had a lengthy relationship and much success with Patti Engineering's previous work on our material handling systems controls in our Houston facility," said Dave Stevens, Sr. VP of Distribution and Logistics for Men's Wearhouse. "We're pleased and confident to have them developing sortation controls for our new tuxedo processing center."
__________________________________________________________
Send your announcments to CSIA's PR Manager Julie Redders. | |
Insurance Report
by Paul Barnard
We welcome a new member of our USA Property/Casualty Program: Primary Systems of Old Bridge, New Jersey.
Our program continues to grow and prosper and remains the only program specifically for control system integrators. For all our non USA-based members, you will in the next several days be getting information on our new Professional Errors & Omissions facility. Again, we believe this is a unique product and fills a long felt need. Also, our U.S. members will be getting full details on our bonding facility with First Sealord. Included in this communication will be the documents you will need to complete to get initial approval for bonding. The information needed is extensive, but by completing now you will avoid the problems associated with last minute applications. You will also be made aware of any changes in your procedures that will be necessary to obtain a bond.
Work continues on our CSIA Captive Insurance Company. In the light of the current economy, we are reconsidering the best way to move forward and expect to have completed this review by the end of August.
|
Welcome to the Newest CSIA Members
- NOREC Automation; Phillip Resler; Solon, OH
- Aardvark Engineering Systems, LLC; Adam Abelew; Livingston, NJ
|
CSIA Committee Updates
Some news from the last month . . .
Marketing CommitteeThe role of the Marketing Committee was discussed this past month. It was noted that in past years there were various opinions on how the Marketing Committee would work. A question was raised as to what the current role should be and it was decided that the staff and Executive Committee will develop a marketing strategy based on the strategic plan and work with the marketing committee on various projects and for specific input. We also discussed the need for a separate subcommittee focusing on the client side. Read more from the Marketing Committee. Statistics Committee Members have a offered a great deal of feedback to the Committee. Based upon this feedback, we are currently identifying financial reporting standards and best practices. We will use these to more clearly define the financial survey data. In addition, the Committee is researching and evaluating different formats and platforms for the survey. Our goal is to minimize the effort required in participating in the survey, while providing valuable information to members that will enable them to improve their businesses. Best PracticesThe Best Practices Committee is currently in the process of building a guidance document for the CSIA administrative staff and independent auditors for the process required to revoke certification status from an integrator that fails to meet the ongoing requirements. This document will be generic enough to cover situations from failure to pass the re-certification audit to changes in business ownership that may affect certification status. The first draft of this document has been completed and has been forwarded to the Executive Council for review and comment. Read more from the Best Practices Committee. | |
|
|
|
|
Control Engineering August Supplement - Get Yours!
When your August issue of Control Engineering Magazine arrives, immediately look for the CSIA supplement. Remove it and keep it for future reference.
It's a masterpiece that summarizes nearly all that CSIA is about.
A hardy Thank You goes out to many people and organizations who helped this project come to fruition: Control Engineering magazine, it was their idea; the CSIA staff, particularly Julie Redders our new PR professional who can take "chunks" of information and turn them into well-written articles; members of various CSIA committees; certification auditors; insurance folks; and last, but not least, our Partner members who advertised!
Without the Partner Member ads the project would not have been financially possible.
|
Catch us in Houston for ISA Expo 2009
Not sure who ARC is? Think of Russ Novak, a regular speaker at our annual conference. In past years ARC had their event concurrent with ISA but in a different location. This year ARC will integrate their ALM Knowledge Exchange with the ISA Expo. Their theme is Asset Lifecycle Management and they will have several presenters in their Knowledge Exchange Center (a section of their pavilion). I encourage you to go to the show to see new technologies at the vendor booths on the ISA Expo floor, experience the many educational opportunities, and attend the ALM presentations which ARC is offering!
CSIA Executive Director Bob Lowe will be doing two presentations on behalf of CSIA in the ISA venue. The first will be a 30-minute presentation in the ISA Technology Exchange Theater titled How CSIA Improves Control System Integrators and Benefits End-Users. The second will be a two-hour workshop: The Path to Becoming CSIA Certified. Be sure to stop in the ARC ALM Pavilion to see him.
 | |
