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This month's question:
What average increase (for cost of living adjustment and performance) do you plan to give your employees?
Complete survey question here.
January Survey Results
What section of the Best Practices manual do you find the most difficult to implement?
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CSIA members named Best in Automation 
CSIA offers a most sincere congratulations to our members that won the System Integrator of the Year awards. Control Engineering recognizes the best in automation, controls, and instrumentation system integration with their fifth annual System Integrator of the Year awards, the cover story in the 2011 Automation Integrator Guide, part of the December 2010 Control Engineering and Plant Engineering issues. All are CSIA Certified members. We are very proud of them!
· Martin Control Systems
· Aseco Integrated Systems
· Maverick Technologies
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Registration is now open!
Executive Conference, April 27 - 30, Universal Studios Orlando
Download the full preliminary agenda, register for the conference, purchase tickets to Universal Studios and the Blue Man Group and make your hotel reservations . . . all here. |
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CSIA to present Certification Bootcamp 
March 29-30 in Dallas, Texas
Taking the audit requires a fair amount of preparation on the part of numerous company employees. Someone has to be appointed to direct these efforts to assure that all of the specified audited items are ready for review.
We receive a lot of requests from members stating they just don't know how to go about doing this, nor do they have the time and personnel to spend on this effort. Some want recommendations on an outside consultant to help them with this. Since the required audited information is company internal, an outside coordinator usually is not a very effective solution.
Seeing a need, we approached Exotek, one of our auditing firms, and asked if they could conduct a training session for companies preparing for the audit. The result is a 2-day Certification Bootcamp to be held in Dallas, March 29-30, 2011.
This course will give the system integrator a review of the systems, policies and procedures necessary to successfully pass a CSIA Certification Audit. The intent of the class is to prepare the internal champion with a clear understanding of the requirements and provide some advice on how to prepare for the audit. The material will be presented by the same people that perform the audits. The content will be based on the experience gained by the auditors and will include examples and templates where appropriate. The material covered will only be those sections of the CSIA Best Practices & Benchmarks Guidelines Rev (03) that are addressed in the audit.
Specific program and registration information will be emailed to you soon. You can also watch www.controlsys.org for updates. We highly recommend you consider sending your audit leader and perhaps other key personnel. |
January webinar
Did you miss the January webinar by Software Toolbox and Apex Manufacturing Solutions called " Can a Tiger Change its Stripes? What it takes for SIs to bring commercial off-the-shelf software to the market"? If so go to Controlsys.org under News and Programs to find the archive. There are many land mines in marketing and selling commercial software. Watch this webinar to discover what they are and learn how to avoid them. Do you have an idea for a webinar? If so drop Bob Lowe an email. ___________________________________________________ February webinarProtecting your Competitive Advantage with Value Add Wednesday, February 23, 2011
12:00 noon to 12:30 pm CT
presented by Jane Schwartz, Global Marketing Manager, Industrial
Pentair Technical Products The webinar will focus on adding value to the end customers; protecting their investment while increasing sales and profits. Topics will include the benefits of Thermal and Condensation Management and how to communicate these benefits to your customers. |
Have you completed the membership survey?
The primary contacts of each of our member organizations recently received a survey with questions about what you think of CSIA. The results will provide the Executive Council and staff with a good understanding of how members feel about CSIA and what they want out of the association. We know how pressed everyone is for time, but we request that you please set aside some time to complete the survey. The results will help us serve you better. Thank you! |
Want to make headlines? 
We would like to help!
CSIA members have the opportunity to appear in a monthly Channel Chat Column in InTech. According to Bill Lydon, editor of InTech, Channel Chat is about news and developments from system integrators, with a focus on tips and strategies for system integrators. The articles are 700 - 800 words in length. These are published in InTech magazine (65,000 readers), InTech Online (130.000 readers) and in the Automation Weekly (100,000 readers). The articles can focus on a specific technology, business practice, application (case history), or be tutorial (how-to) in nature.
Another opportunity is the quarterly column CSIA writes for Automation World, which has a diverse, manufacturing audience. The articles are to be about control system integration topics of interest to readers who are not system integrators. Gary Mintchell, Automation World editor, advises that articles should be written in news editorial style (not bullet point lists of how-to) and about 600 - 650 words long.
If you are interested in writing for either publication, please contact Bob Lowe or Ann Nelson of the CSIA staff. |
Connected Community has a new look 
. . . and new features
The CSIA Connected Community is one year old, so it's time to upgrade. The home page has a more up-to-date look and the pages for the individual communities have a new look and new features. The site is a work in progress, so if you think, "Wouldn't it be great if...", please let Ann Nelson know. Some features we can add quickly, others we add to the wish list for the software developer. See you online! |
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Marketing Committee update
by Tom Walther, Committee Chair
Our primary attention has been working toward creating more awareness for the Certification program among our end-user clients. Our initial plan of working on an article with ARC has been delayed, and we have decided to push forward with a different initiative.
To assist us in the branding awareness, CSIA staff recruited and interviewed three qualified marketing firms. In December, we chose to begin working with consultants from the Ritterbusch Group, a marketing firm that specializes in working with industry trade associations like ours, helping them to creatively and effectively develop their brands.
Progress to date: Ritterbusch has been interviewing existing members and have now begun interviews with end-user clients to gain more understanding of the awareness of the CSIA brand, its strengths and weaknesses, and how best to move forward to improving our brand awareness.
We will present our progress, along with Ritterbusch's research, recommendations and our plans at the Executive Conference business meeting. |
Statistics Committee update 
by PC Romano, Committee Chair
The Statistics Committee devoted its efforts in 2010 to the launch of CSIA's new Benchmarking Program, called KPICs. In September, KPICs was successfully released to all members, and we now have 42 registrants. The Executive Council agreed to fund the program costs in 2011 for the first 50 participants - so if you haven't already registered, do so now by clicking here!
We've also created a KPICs Community on the CSIA Connected Community website. Please consider joining, to post thoughts, questions, and suggestions. We want to hear how you're using KPICs, as well as ways to make it better. Join the conversation.
KPICs will be transitioning to a new version of software in the near future. We're excited about the following enhancements:
- New dashboard views, including year-to-date (YTD), same period prior year, and other valuable insights
- Redesigned Map Editor to provide faster account mapping/remapping
- Faster benchmarking filter results
- Improved navigation and other changes to enhance functionality and look and feel
For an overview of the system and a glimpse of the new platform, register now for our upcoming webinar on Fri, Feb 18 at 11am EST.
Did you know that the average revenue among KPICs participants declined 12% in 2009? How did we fare in 2010? To find out, register for KPICs! |
Insurance update
by Paul Barnard
Welcome
First, with much pleasure, we welcome PCS Utilidata of Spokane, WA to our Program.
Another success story
Recently, the importance of the contract review service was again highlighted. A member was negotiating two contracts with large multi-national corporations and total potential annual revenues of $45 million. Having received the review provided by First Niagara, the member commented that he could not believe the detail, depth and quality of the advice which he felt was invaluable in getting the contracts revised and thereby enabling the member to avoid potential liabilities down the road. We encourage all members either currently insured via the Program or insured elsewhere to use this free facility.
Business interruption insurance - Do you need this coverage?
Business interruption insurance can be as vital to your business survival as fire insurance. Most people would never consider opening a business without buying insurance to cover damage due to fire and windstorms. But too many small business owners fail to think about how they would manage if a fire or other disaster damaged their business premises so that they were temporarily unusable.
Business interruption coverage is not sold separately. It is added to a property insurance policy or included in a package policy.
A business that has to close down completely while the premises are being repaired may lose out to competitors. A quick resumption of business after a disaster is essential.
1. Business interruption insurance compensates you for lost income if your company has to vacate the premises due to disaster-related damage, such as a fire, that is covered under your property insurance policy. Business interruption insurance covers the profits you would have earned, based on your financial records, had the disaster not occurred. The policy also covers operating expenses, like electricity, that continue even though business activities have come to a temporary halt.
2. Make sure the policy limits are sufficient to cover your company for more than a few days. After a major disaster, it can take more time than many people anticipate to get the business back on track. There is generally a 48-hour waiting period before business interruption coverage kicks in.
3. The price of the policy is related to the risk of a fire or other disaster damaging your premises. All other things being equal, the price would probably be higher for a restaurant than a real estate agency, for example, because of the greater risk of fire. Also, a real estate agency can more easily operate out of another location.
Extra expense insurance reimburses your company for a reasonable sum of money that it spends, over and above normal operating expenses, to avoid having to shut down during the restoration period. Usually, extra expenses will be paid if they help to decrease business interruption costs. In some instances, extra expense insurance alone may provide sufficient coverage, without the purchase of business interruption insurance.
Every business should have a disaster plan in place so that, in the event of significant business interruption, they have a plan of operation in place that they can utilize to get their business up and running as quickly as possible. We can help you with an outline plan.
For more information on this or any other form of Business insurance contact Paul Barnard, insurance program manager, paulbarnard@csia-insurance.com, (610) 507-6595. |
Continuous improvement
Todd Youngblood, CSIAs marketing guru suggested this excellent article on continuous improvement. A must-watch is the video at the end: 200 Years 200 Countries. It's unrelated to systems integration but exhibits global continuous improvement. |
Update: Project Management Training
Project Management Training has been delayed. The instructor for the course has changed jobs and is no longer available. There is a potential replacement but it's not certain. Stay tuned for details. |
ABB Automation & Power World 2011
ABB is generously providing CSIA with a booth and presentation opportunity again this year. We are very grateful and encourage our integrator members to attend the event from April 18-21, 2011 at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Florida. |
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Bull's Eye Research has discount for CSIA
CSIA has negotiated a 20% discount with Bull's Eye Research for two studies.
2009 What End Users Are Looking for in Automation System Integrators
Do you want to know what your clients are looking for in a control system integrator? Then this study is for you. Much of the data is from the Automation Integrator Guide and provides information such as:
· Industries that integrators need to serve.
· Geographic areas that need service.
· Engineering specialties that are desired.
· Product experience that searchers want in an integrator.
· Corporate affiliations that are attractive to searchers.
· Professional affiliations that are favored by searchers.
· Company size (in terms of annual revenue) that searchers prefer.
The cost is $392.
2010 Automation System Integrators - Perceptions, Preferences, Programs
Do you want to know how control system integrators act and think? Then this study is for you. The purpose of this report is to identify the issues affecting system integrators and the impact these issues will have on end users and vendors of factory automation products. The data is from approximately 60 CSIs via an online survey and provides information such as:
· Purchasing Authority
· Vendor Preferences and Methods
· Future Product Needs
· Technology Preferences
· Integrator Demographics
The cost is $784.
Use the fliers at this link to place your order and indicate that you are a CSIA member. |
PCI Conference in Galveston
The Process Control & Instrumentation Conference will be March 9 - 10, 2011 at the Moody Gardens Hotel and Conference Center in Galveston, Texas. This event was established to meet the needs of the PCI and HPI industries by having a forum to discuss current issues, topics and technologies. CSIA has a booth and would like one of our integrator members to man it. Publicity for CSIA is the key objective, but your company gets exposure also. A free pass is provided for the person at the booth. Want to volunteer?! Contact Bob Lowe. All other CSIA member attendees get a $100 discount. |
| Welcome to the Newest CSIA Members | |
Feyen Zylstra, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA represented by Jim Ebels
Feyen Zylstra is an electrical services firm focusing on electrical service, electrical construction, low voltage cabling and electrical controls engineering. Looking to grow our engineering services into new vertical markets as well as new strategic locations. We are currently working primarily in automotive, material handling and process control applications.
Parsec Automation Corporation, Brea, California, USA represented by Thomas Muth
Parsec is committed to developing practical, effective, easy-to-use and economical software products that enable our clients to rapidly improve the productivity of their manufacturing operations. Our company delivers a single standard software tool for developing manufacturing operations management, performance management, and manufacturing intelligent applications to discrete and hybrid industries.
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| Newly Certified and Recertified Members | |
The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) is pleased to announce that the following member companies have recently earned "Certified Member" distinction:
Combined Technologies, LTD., Hamilton, New Zealand
Lord & Company, Inc., Fort Mill, South Carolina
National Technical Systems, Albuquerque, New Mexico |
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Executive Director's Message
The 2011 CSIA Annual Executive Conference is planned and we know you're going to like it. The venue is first class and the content should send you home with lots of great business ideas. Your primary contact person should have received the announcement including registration information. Brochures will be mailed this week.
There are some amazing conversations in the CSIA Connected Community Open Forum. Be sure to follow them, and engage if you'd like. There is no other place you can go to network like this with your peers, except the conference.
Remember to review "CSIA on the Air" on our public website. Use these recordings in your marketing or employee training. There are many topics and more will be added in the future.
Do you use the Best Practices Manual as a guide to improve your operations? If you do and you want your clients to know what it contains so they will better understand why it's good for them too, show them the Table of Contents. A PDF is now available in the Best Practices library. |
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