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April 2011 sponsored by Online Development
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This month's question:
If CSIA implemented an annual, online salary survey, as we have done in the past, would your company participate?
Complete survey question here.
March survey results
If you are an owner or manager, what is the average number of hours per week that you work?
Do you have a survey question to suggest? Send your suggestion to Bob Lowe.
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Procrastinators: you've been warned.
Registration and hotel rates jump after Saturday.
We're getting down to the wire now. Just a few days left to save money on your conference registration. After Saturday, the early rates will expire and registrations will increase $50 per person. Register here!
Hotel rooms are going fast too. The Portofino Bay Hotel has a limited number of rooms left at the special conference rate of $195. After Saturday, those rates will increase dramatically. Get your room while you can!
Registrations continue to come in at a record pace. We hope to count you in too! See a list of current registrants here.
For questions, please contact the CSIA staff at (800) 661-4914 or bmarsala@controlsys.org.
See you in Orlando, April 27 - 30!
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CSIA webinars
March
Automation Appliances
If you missed this webinar and your company is creating custom collaboration software instead of using Automation Appliances then you are taking substantial risk and likely losing money too. View this archived webinar in Controlsys.org under News and Programs. All previous webinars are archived there. __________________________________ April How To Actually Sell Something Using Social Media
Thursday, April 7, 2011
11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (New York)/ 3:00 p.m. GMT
Todd Youngblood - CEO of The YPS Group
"I'd rather stick a sharp pencil in my eye than listen to one more over-hyped speech about social media." That's a direct quote from our presenter. He knows you're tired of all the hype, and this webinar is specifically designed to avoid it. Two specific strategies that are delivering results right now will be reviewed in detail. Yes, they both depend on social media.
KPICs: Overview and Demonstration of Latest Version
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (New York)/ 3:00 p.m. GMT
PC Romano, CSIA Statistics Committee Chairman, and Basim Alhaddad, iLumen
KPICs, CSIA's benchmarking program, allows you to compare your stats with other integrators as well as other companies in related fields. The web-based tool provides detailed reports that can be used for your own executive dashboards. The information you share is completely secure and confidential. Some of the benefits of KPICs include:
· Streamlined data upload
· Trending of quarterly data and leading indicators
· Rich and flexible reporting
· Data security
During this interactive webinar, we will provide an overview of KPICs and its features. We'll then conduct a live demonstration of the latest version of KPICs, followed by Q&A. This webinar will benefit anyone considering registering for KPICs, as well as current users who want to learn more about the system.
Attracting and Hiring New EmployeesDate and time TBD Evy Trost, Operations Manager, National Engineering Resources
Note:Our monthly webinars will be sponsored and hosted by Software Toolbox beginning in May.
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CSIA membership survey - Have you completed it yet?
The CSIA staff and executive council thank the 76 members who have already completed the 2011 Membership Survey. The completion date has been extended to Wednesday, April 6. If you have not yet completed it, try to set aside 15 minutes to do it before the end-of-day Tuesday, April 5. The results greatly impact the strategic plans and goals set to improve CSIA. CSIA members survey their customers upon project completion so that they can improve their companies. In the same way, we're surveying you so that we can improve CSIA for your sake. Please complete the survey if you haven't!
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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. |
Regional industry events
CSIA encourages our members to be aware of events in their area and volunteer to man trade show booths on its behalf. Doing so benefits CSIA and gives your company exposure. There is typically no cost and CSIA will provide you with the materials. There are two things required of your company: your time and the desire to promote CSIA. It's a win-win! This request applies to non-U.S. and Canadian companies too. Brochures will be emailed to you for local printing. Here are two examples of events:
· The PC&I Conference in Galveston, Texas in March was to be attended by Mangan, Inc., one of our integrator members in that area. Unfortunately the conference was cancelled.
· Currently we need a member to attend the Connectivity Week conference in Santa Clara, CA on May 25. The conference lasts for several days, but we need a member for only one day to attend an end-users technologies and methodologies discussion that includes integrators, end-users and vendors. The topic is energy management and efficiency. Contact Bob Lowe to volunteer and get additional details. Note that end-users will be there!
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Best Practices Committee update 
by Jeff Miller, committee chair
The Best Practices committee continues to be very busy with updating the Best Practices manual to get ready for a version 4 release in April of 2012. We now have the main edits to the document complete and have released a beta version for use in obtaining feedback from end users of control system integration services, as well as CSIA partners. The goal of this step in the process is to validate which items in the best practices are the most important for CSIA to audit. Our goal is to approach end users from most, if not all, of the industry sectors that would utilize system integration services. Once this is complete the committee will use this feedback to validate and adjust, as needed, the individual items on which our auditors will be auditing our integrators.
Once that is determined the BP&B committee will make any final edits to the V4 Beta version and release it to a group of integrators who have agreed to be part of our pilot audit process. Bob Lowe and the auditors will edit the auditor's handbook at this time as well. Our goal is to perform as many as 10 pilot audits on the new version and to collect feedback from those being audited to make any final clarifying changes necessary before releasing the V4 document to the general body at our 2012 CSIA Executive Conference.
As you can see, lots of things have to fall into place between now and then for this new version to be ready to release. If your company is due for a reaudit between now and February 2012, and you would be interested in participating in a pilot audit based on the latest version, please contact your auditor and let him know.
The Best Practices Committee recently had an inquiry from another international certified member that would like to join our committee and help us along the path of continuously improving the best practices. Once they have joined we will officially welcome and announce them. As always, the Best Practices committee would love to invite you to join our group and volunteer to help shape the Best Practices manual as we continue our efforts over the next 16 to 18 months. If you are interested in joining, please call me at (712) 722-1663 x151 or email me.
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Marketing committee update
by Tom Walther, committee chair
The Marketing Committee's primary objective this year is raising the awareness of our end-users to CSIA. The first steps of understanding and benchmarking the current level of awareness among the end user community is nearing completion. The Ritterbusch Group is assisting in this.
The next steps will be to present those findings to the Executive Council with recommendations for a strategic plan. Those discussions will take place at the Executive Conference in May.
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Insurance update  by Paul Barnard
Apart from the fact that I hurt when I attempt to get out of bed in the morning and when I do, I cannot walk, the other sure sign of advancing years is that, as the annual CSIA Executive Conference approaches, it seems only yesterday that we were in Seattle! Less than a month to go until we're in Orlando!
The last 12 months have been a great year for our program, thanks in great part to the splendid efforts of First Niagara, our insurance agents/brokers. I am very proud of the insurance product that we offer our members. It remains the only program designed specifically for control system integrators and is a genuine membership benefit, as is evidenced by the number of members who participate. Additionally, as a adjunct to our Best Practices it provides a wonderful risk management and loss prevention service. As an example of this, our contract review service is fantastic. Recently, a member with annual revenue of $20 million decided to move to the program based upon the depth of advice they received regarding their contractual obligations.
For our Canadian members: good news. By the time of this year's conference, we will have in place a facility for you, providing all lines of coverage. I will be writing individually to you with more details. Also, we now have a combined general liability/professional errors and omissions facility available for membership outside of North America. I hope to meet as many of our non-American members as possible at the conference.
As at past conferences, we will again this year reserve a meeting room designated for you to meet one-on-one with myself and representatives of First Niagara to ask specific questions about how best to protect your business assets and potential liabilities. You'll find us in the Michelangelo room on the upper level of the conference area. Please contact me to make an appointment at a time that suits your schedule. The room will be open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 8 a.m. - noon Saturday.
For more information on how the CSIA Insurance programs can work for you to protect your assets and potential liabilities please contact our Insurance Program Manager, Paul Barnard. You can reach Paul at paulbarnard@csia-insurance.com or (610) 507-6595. |
Membership committee update
by Joe Martin, committee chair
Many good things have been said about our Mentorship Program, especially about the Mentors. Despite everyone's best efforts, the program became a burden. Insisting and pestering by the committee only added to the agitation of business pressures and real-world problems.
Today, our group of dedicated CSIA die-hards, willing to reach out to new members and show them the ropes, are set to welcome new members as New Member Ambassadors. Using a private area on the Connected Community, Ambassadors will be coordinating their efforts to welcome new members, brief them on the organization and help them get the most out of their membership.
We've also outlined a program to create Certification Advisors. This program hopes to provide Associate members undertaking Certification with a supporter/counselor/cheerleader of sorts. There has been a lot of interest expressed for this program and suggestions from those who might participate in it would be most appreciated. Contact me with your suggestions.
A free lunch awaits anyone who has not yet attended an Executive Conference. Just attend this year's conference and, during registration, check the box indicating that you're a first time attendee. Our committee will again be hosting a private lunch with a program designed to help you navigate the conference and get the most out of your time there. Topics include the Partner's Expo Night (Thursday) and how to network with people who you might consider competitors (you'll find out they really aren't).
As always, members are welcome to join our monthly conference calls. Please contact me for call-in details and an agenda.
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Certification Boot Camp Recap 
March 29-30 in Dallas, Texas
Sponsored by Invensys Operations Management
The Best Practices and Benchmarks is the core of CSIA and the Certification program compliments this valuable document. Achieving Certification is an intense process and requires successfully passing a third-party audit conducted by one of the two CSIA approved auditors.
Don Roberts and Brian Mullen of Exotek provided a detailed description of the requirements for successfully and efficiently passing the audit and welcomed discussion among the 18 attendees concerning the process.
Joe Sweeny of Sweeny Controls Company, a current Associate member, stated, "Coming to this program clearly identified the path for Certification. Being a smaller company, we found this program to be very beneficial."
Boot Camp is also important for current Certified members such as Applied Control Technology, Inc. "The audit process can appear daunting to an SI, but the good thing about the fear of the audit is that it brings continuous improvement to the company," commented Tim Paschal of ACT.
"Our company has grown substantially over the past few years and Certification has allowed the growth to be a smooth and efficient process. We've had at least two bid requests in the last few months that require CSIA Certification," remarked ACT's Brian Steed.
Stay tuned for details regarding the Fall Boot Camp!
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AIG receives small business award
Congratulations to Donna Chappel of Advanced Integration Group (AIG), one of our integrator members. AIG, a Pittsburgh-based engineering and construction firm, has been named by U.S. Small Business Administration Pittsburgh District as the 2010 Minority Small Business of the Year.
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Robotics Industries Association (RIA) launches integrator certification program
CSIA continues to develop relationships with other automation industry associations. Among other initiatives with RIA, this is our first newsletter article exchange. We thank Jeff Burnstein, RIA president, for this new collaboration.
At the Automate 2011 show in Chicago, Robotic Industries Association (RIA) launched a new certification program for robotic system integrators. The certification program is designed to help users find qualified integrators and lead to more successful applications of robotics. Users told RIA that there are so many integrators right now, it's hard for them to know which ones should be on their "short list" of companies to consider. RIA certification could ultimately prove to be a key factor in the decision process.
RIA plans to pilot the program with up to ten member companies this year. Information is being gathered via an NDA between RIA and members willing to participate. All information that is included in the final criteria will be audited.
Platinum integrator members of RIA pay $3000 per year and will not pay an extra charge to apply for certification. They will have to pay for the auditing fees and travel, which is expected to total less than $2000 in most cases. Recertification will be required every two years.
RIA expects to aggressively market its certified integrators on its Robotics Online website that currently has more than 230,000 unique visitors per year.
RIA's sister trade group, the Automated Imaging Association, currently offers certification for machine vision professionals at the basic and advanced level.
For full details on these certification programs, contact Jeff Burnstein at (734) 994-6088 or jburnstein@robotics.org.
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FIRST inspires young people to be science and technology leaders
FIRST is an acronym for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology." It is an organization with the vision to transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders.
Their mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
How can you be involved? Attend their big event of the year, FIRST's Robotics Championship in St. Louis, April 27-30. If you're attending the CSIA conference during that time (and we hope you are), consider sending some of your engineers. If you want to network while you're there, look for Automation Federation, one of CSIA's new association affiliations.
Click here to learn more about FIRST and this event.
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New CSIA certification materials available
A new PowerPoint presentation and two fliers are available to Partner members to promote their CSIA Certified integrators to clients and promote CSIA membership to non-CSIA member integrators. They can be found in the Audit and Certification library under "Materials to Promote CSIA Certification." CSIA Certified Integrators can make use of them in their business development programs. Associate and Participating members can use them to more fully understand what CSIA Certification can do for their companies, both in operations and in business development.
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Process documentation
and CSIA Certification success
by Gordon Cox, ASR, CSIA Auditor
The success in developing a CSIA Certified program is based on the organization of the processes used. It is suggested that a CSIA champion be identified early on in the process and that individual be responsible for the collection and development of the necessary process documentation required by the program.
CSIA champions should develop a support staff that will be responsible for the various sections of the Best Practice document and assign deadlines for submissions and review of the developed documents using a standardized format for all prepared documentation to ensure consistency in the process.
Integrators considering the certification process are successful in their own business practices and have developed processes to ensure they remain profitable. The Best Practice document, as stated, is a guideline for what a successful integration business should consider and perform to ensure the customer receives a successful integration project.
The document is not a "how to" document, but rather contains considerations and guidance on achieving success.
The audit process is based on established requirements that are considered necessary. It is the auditor's responsibility to evaluate the implementation and determine whether the process meets the intent of the Best Practice document.
The process of developing a CSIA Certified program is intended to accomplish a number of things, the most important being the documentation and evaluation of current processes used to complete a successful integration project. Documenting all processes used during a project will ensure end results that are consistent and yield a quality process. Second, ongoing continuous improvements are another key aspect of the output. Evaluations of completed projects are used to drive further improvements and hopefully greater profits.
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- Jason Baron wins EPIC Way Award
- Dornoch Medical Systems selects QTERM-G72 for Fluid Collection System
- Waterford Township, Michigan standardizes on Proficy® Software and Services to drive actionable information for workforce efficiency and effectiveness
- Proficy® for Water InfoCenter Provides a Powerful Water Information Hub
- ACC opens new office in Rockville, Maryland
- Roy Krok founds Aware Technology
- Jody Markopoulos named as President & CEO of GE Intelligent Platforms
- GE continues to expand range of embedded computing solutions based on latest Intel® Processor technology
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| Welcome to the Newest CSIA Members | |
Balluff, Inc., Florence, KY represented by John Harmon
Balluff, Inc is a full-line automation sensor supplier, focusing on discrete sensor, linear transducers, RFID, and industrial networking products.
Calhoun & Poxon Co., Inc., Los Angeles, CA represented by Garrett Calhoun Calhoun & Poxon Co offers process control design, fabrication, integration and service for the renewable energy, fluid handling, food processing and thermo process industries.
CIM Industrial Systems A/S, Sruer, Denmark represented by Soren P. Petersen CIM Industrial Systems A/S is an integrator of automatic test systems for the industry. CIMs expertise is within LabVIEW and TestStand programming for automatic test systems. CIM also delivers turn-key test solutions. CIM is an alliance partner with National Instruments (NI) and is now together with NI planning on qualifying for a Select Partnership.
Harting, Inc of North America, Elgin, IL represented by Jill Shea
Harting develops, manufactures and sells electrical and electronic connectors, device terminations, backplanes, network components as well as cable harnesses for networks or machinery, or for power and data application in factories. Their products are used in mechanical and plant engineering, broadcast and entertainment, factory automation, power generation and distribution as well as industrial electronics.
Hunt Guillot & Associates, LLC, Ruston, LA represented by Steve Blackwelder
Hunt Guillot & Associates (HGA) is an engineering and control system integration company providing services to various industries. Target markets include oil and gas, heavy industrial and forest products. Integration services include SCADA, PLC, HMI, and DCS controls.
Koester Metals, Inc., Defiance, OH represented by Gary Koester KMI is a custom enclosure manufacturer focused on quick turn delivery in controls, power, traffic control, and other industries.
Polaris Automation, Inc., Columbus, OH represented by Scott Cooke Polaris provides services to all markets associated with industrial control system automation. Its focus is turnkey control system design and commissioning, project management, custom programming, data collection, control panel design and fabrication, drafting quality services (lifecycle documentation, qualification documentation and execution, integrated commissioning, system validation audits), training instrumentation specification and calibration.
Red Lion Controls, York, PA represented by Scott Gibbs Red Lion Controls is a manufacturer of industrial automation solutions. It's goal is to help its customers more easily integrate their various disparate system components into system architectures that allow them to monitor and control their processes per customer specifications.
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| Newly Certified and Recertified Members | |
The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) is pleased to announce that the following member company has recently earned "Certified Member" distinction:
Pro-Tech Systems Group, Akron, OH
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Executive Director's Message
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Bob Lowe
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Welcome to the April 2011 CSIA newsletter! Forward this informative newsletter to others in your organization who might find it of interest.
There is substantial content in this newsletter so I will be brief and provide but one comment: Attend the Annual Executive Conference later this month. If you have any doubts about the value of it, please know that our membership surveys consistently indicate that this conference is one of the top three reasons for being CSIA members. Given that evidence, I rest my case. See you in Orlando!
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