News from CSIA for August 2011

August 2011 sponsored by Online Development

Bob Lowe

Welcome to the August 2011 CSIA newsletter! Making your business the best it can be is your goal - and ours! When control system integrators adopt CSIA's best practices, they are making a commitment to become "best of class." By becoming CSIA certified, you make public your company's achievement of high business standards.

But the benefit of certification doesn't end there. Read more.

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President's Message

Lynda J. Patterson, FASAE, CAE

In a city where it's joked that Winter lasts eight months, you can imagine that summer brings a lot of activity to Wisconsin. The same holds true for the CSIA headquarters office here in Madison where we've been busy planning new initiatives and following through on Board directives, including plans for new web development and increased activity on the Connected Community site. Summer is also the time when we secure details for the following year's Executive Conference. We'll be in Scottsdale, Ariz. in 2012 and have a lot of special events planned to take advantage of the gorgeous landscape and brand new Talking Stick Resort. We know you're going to love it!

As always, we invite member feedback on all CSIA programs and communications. My door is always open: lpatterson@controlsys.org.

30-Second Survey

What is your "average age of receivables?"

Complete survey question here.

July survey results

Would you be willing to submit at least one of your templates, processes or procedures so that it is available in some form to all members?

July Survey results

Do you have a survey question to suggest? Send your suggestion to Bob Lowe.

Considering CSIA Certification?

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. How do you allocate time and personnel toward this effort? What steps do you need to take to get there? What are the audit criteria?

To help answer these questions and more CSIA and Exotek, one of the certification auditors, has developed a two-day Certification Bootcamp - a training session for companies preparing for the audit. Read more.

Independent Contractor Liability is topic of August webinar

Friday, August 26

One of the major decisions facing any control system integrator is whether to "hire" or "contract" with key personnel. Choosing to hire is certainly the more inclusive route, but it carries with it a host of legal obligations. While the obligations may be fewer if the label "independent contractor" is chosen instead, the labels are less important than the actuality. In other words, what your company may call an "independent contractor" may be the government's idea of an employee. Read more.

Our monthly webinars are sponsored and hosted by Software Toolbox.

Looking to grow revenue?

Enroll in our fall sales training!

Engineering Influence Selling System© is a seven-step selling model designed specifically for system integrators and Engineering Influence: Client Facing Training for Non-Selling Professionals is designed for technical associates who need to do a better job of managing client expectations and selling additional work orders. Both courses are taught online over 10 consecutive weeks. Read more.

ISA Expo Control 2011
ISA 2011

ISA Expo Control 2011, Aug. 24 - 26, in Mexico City, is the exhibition that reunites the main national and international companies of instrumentation, control, automation, robotics, industrial software and hardware and maintenance that are applied in the private and public industry. Read more.

Publicize your company through CSIA

Expand your company's public relations efforts by working with CSIA. CSIA has established relationships with several automation and control magazines and web sites that are looking for news and information of interest to their readers. If you are interested in joining our growing list of members who have committed to submitting one article for publication per year through CSIA, please e-mail Bob Lowe. Read more.

2012 Executive Conference presentations Scottsdale 2012

Are you passionate and knowledgeable about a business topic? Have you had a particularly positive or negative experience in your business that you would like to share? If so, consider a presentation at the 2012 conference. You don't have to be a top-notch public speaker. Your message is what matters. Contact Bob Lowe.

Conference sponsor spotlight

Mitsubishi Electric introduces process automation solutions

an interview with Joel Gil - Director of Business Development, Mitsubishi Electric - Process Automation Solutions Group, PA

For nearly 100 years Mitsubishi Electric has contributed to a vibrant and sustainable society through a diverse range of advanced technologies and services. As a leading global manufacturer of renewable energy, power infrastructure, process automation, and information and communication systems, Mitsubishi Electric plays a global role in making "Changes for the Better." Read full interview.

Statistics Committee update

New salary survey is under development

PC Romano,

Statistics Chair

Due to significant interest in salary trends, the Statistics Committee is designing a new salary survey. Our first step is to identify job titles and develop standard job descriptions that reflect the associated skills and responsibilities. The next step is to identify the survey platform and design the survey. As in the past, we will ask one representative from each CSIA member company to submit salary information. Read more.

Marketing Committee update

Marketing initiative expands

Tom Walther,
Marketing Chair

The Marketing Committee has expanded its membership and divided into two teams focusing on initiatives that were identified in the Ritterbusch project market research. Team A is working on expanding the CSIA web exposure to our end-user clients and Team B is organizing, reviewing and updating all of the collateral that members have available to them to help promote themselves as CSIA members and certified members. Read more.

Michael Norman of Wunderlich-Malec (l) with Bob Lowe (r).

Member wins award at ICONICS Worldwide Customer Summit

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering, a CSIA Certified integrator, received the US System Integrator Sales Achievement Award at the recent ICONICS Worldwide Customer Summit. ICONICS is a CSIA Partner member.

Security guide now available online

The final version of the Guide to Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security should help pipeline operators, power producers, manufacturers, air traffic control centers and other managers of critical infrastructures to secure their systems while addressing unique performance, reliability, and safety requirements. Read the full article.

Thank you to Greg Hale at ICCS, an e-publication on safety and security, for this information.

Grow your business in South America

CSIA members are encouraged to consider participation in the Brazil Automation ISA event in November.
If growth in South America is in your strategic plan then this is your opportunity! ISA Brazil has generously invited CSIA to have a booth to promote our association to the integrators of Brazil. Read more.

Welcome to the Newest CSIA Members

Automation Services, Inc., Lake City, MN;

represented by Patrick Murphy

Automation Services is a geographic specific systems integrator focusing on machine automation, robot aided palletizing, material conveyance, plant process control, waste water control and processing, oven and burner control, barge and ship dockside loading, navy and commercial windless and anchor control, large boom crane automation in explosive atmospheres, and fluid power control and automation.

E-Merge Systems, Inc., Richmond, VA
represented by Adrian Belinne E-Merge Systems, Inc. is an industrial automation solutions provider with decades if combined experience in specifying, designing, and implementing industrial automation systems for a wide variety of industries with specialties in pharma, discrete manufacturing, water treatment facilities and energy.

Lomelo Design Associates, Inc., Parsippany, NJ
represented by Paul J Lomelo, III LDA provides Consulting and Design for Process Automation Industry. We focus on Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering to help customers define and design their automation needs. We then design and/or specify processes and equipment. Work in-house or with outside firms to have equipment fabricated. Program the Automation and Information Systems. Work with our network of contractors to have the system installed. Provide start-up and ongoing support to the client. We focus on Chemical, Petrochemical, and Bio-Pharma Industries.

Mac Process Inc., Sabetha, KS;

represented by Mark Nagely

Mac Process Inc. is a manufacturer of pneumatic conveying and dust control equipment. The process controls departments not only designs and builds control systems for equipment manufactured by Mac Process, but also acts as a systems integrator by providing control systems for other processes. Although food and beverage is the primary industry in which we market and sell, Mac Process provides control systems to a wide variety of industries including building products, chemical, plastics, petrochemical, mining, automotive-related industries, etc.

New Ocean Automation System Co., Ltd, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam;

represented by Thuan Trieu Truong

New Ocean Automation System Co., Ltd. specializes in providing automation solutions and software development services to industrial plants and buildings. Being a partner with famous brands such as Rockwell Automation, Wonderware, Cognex, Sick, Siemens, ABB, SMC, etc., New Ocean is honored to supply our best solution that can satisfy customer needs. New Ocean AS is proud to have a professional engineering team with experience and enthusiasm in order to improve your plant performance. With a powerful and senior experienced staff, New Ocean has ability to support a wide range of automation projects.

Teknikor Automation & Controls, Fall River, MA

represented by Ken Potvin

We combine our experience, advanced technical skills and superior customer service to provide our clients with a one-stop solutions for automation and systems integration.

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Control System Integrators Association

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