Control System Integrators Association

The Control System Integrators Association, or CSIA, is a global, not-for-profit, professional trade association for control systems integrator companies . Founded in 1994, its mission is “to bring successful system integration to the marketplace by creating recognition and demand for CSIA certified members; improving system integration best practices and performance; and providing an industry forum and networking opportunities”.^[1] Its activities include certification, organizing events, providing industry-specific business insurance, and establishing best practices, which are published in a manual and other guides.

CSIA is the largest organization in North America for independent control system integrators, and represents member firms that provide more than $1 billion annually in industrial automation systems . They have over 500 members as of 2/10/2016, which are listed in their online directory of control systems integrators.^[2]

Events

The CSIA organizes an annual conference, the CSIA Executive Conference, which is usually held in late April or early May. They also put on webinars, have sales training programs, as well as workshops on a variety of industry related subjects. CSIA supports and sponsors Best Practices in system integration training, like project management. The 2016 conference was held from April 19–22, in Puerto Rico. The 2017 CSIA Executive Conference will be held in Fort Lauderdale, May 2–5.

The Vision and Mission of CSIA

CSIA is the only trade association focused on advancing the system integration industry. Our vision is to ensure that manufacturing and process industries everywhere have access to low-risk, safe and successful application of automation technology. To accomplish this, CSIA supports system integrator companies in becoming better businesses.

CSIA offers guidance to improve system integrator effectiveness with its Best Practices and Benchmarks manual, an open forum to connect and learn from other companies, and opportunities to market within the industry. As members continue to improve their management skills, they can begin to work toward becoming CSIA Certified, an industry standard in business excellence.

Value of Membership

CSIA membership offers members access to resources needed to attain its business goals. These benefits include networking opportunities at the annual Executive Conference, marketing toolkits, educational materials, and the Industrial Automation Exchange – an online buyers’ guide and community that connects end user clients with system integrators, industry suppliers, manufacturers and process companies, together in one convenient location.

These are just a few examples of how CSIA can improve your business, with CSIA Certification being the recognized seal of approval.

CSIA Best Practices manual

The CSIA publishes a collection of industry best-practices in its Best Practices & Benchmarks manual.^[3] The current edition, "Version 4.0", appeared in May 2012. The best practices cover the following eight areas:

1. general management – including the topics of strategic management, organizational structure, facilities and equipment, computer-systems management, and corporate risk management
2. human resources management – including the topics of administration, recruitment and selection, performance management, training and development, compensation and benefits, and employee communications
3. marketing, business development, & sales management
4. financial management – including the topics of measures of financial performance, financial planning, billing procedures, management of credit, expenses, cash, and security, project financial reporting, and tax policy
5. project management – including topics of contract management, procurement management, planning, risk management, resource management, communications management, scope management, schedule management, budget management, change management, quality management, and closure
6. system development lifecycle – including the topics of internal kickoff, requirements, design, development, unit/module & integration testing, factory acceptance testing, system shipping, installation, commissioning and site acceptance testing
7. supporting activities – including the topics of process development and maintenance, standards and templates, project methodologies, procurement management, risk management, configuration management, and reuse management
8. quality assurance management – including the topics of continuous measurable improvement, client satisfaction measurement, client service, and project quality assurance (PQA)

Version 5.0 of the CSIA Best Practices & Benchmarks manual will be released in 2016.

Certification

CSIA Certification demonstrates commitment to meeting the highest standards for integrator business and management. Successful system integration businesses combine technical proficiency with sound business practices. In fact, clients are now seeking Integrators with a CSIA certification, along side of a ISO certification.

The CSIA began certifying companies in 2000. To be certified, a company must pass an audit based on 79 of the most critical criteria in the Best Practices manual. To be eligible for certification a company must also be an Associate Member, for which the requirements include achieving annual integration services revenues of $600,000 during the three-year period prior to application for CSIA membership, and attending two CSIA Annual Executive Conferences in a three-year period. Companies also must re-certify every three years. As of early 2016, CSIA had over 400 certified members nearly 90 of them certified.

CSIA vendor members such as GE Intelligent Platforms, National Instruments, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, and Siemens, have incorporated CSIA certification into the requirements for their respective system-integrator partnership programs.

Insurance

CSIA's Insurance Programs were created to respond to CSIA members’ need for appropriate and cost-effective coverage that reflects the exposures associated with control system integration, a complex area which is difficult to insure without a proper understanding of the operations of a control system integrator. Before the insurance program, many CSIA members noted that they believed their insurance arrangements were inappropriate, leading them to be misclassified and resulting in potentially dangerous gaps in coverage. This is the only insurance program available for control system integrators, and has been expanded to include international coverage and surety bonding.

First Niagara Risk Management is the CSIA’s sole insurance agent.^[4]

Awards

Four awards are granted by the CSIA annually at their executive conference. These are the Charlie Bergmann Award, the Partner Award, the Rising Star Award, and the Individual Partner Award.^[5]

Member Directory-Automation Systems Integrator Buyers Guide/

In 2014, CSIA Launched the Industrial Automation Exchange. The Exchange is a smart directory of CSIA Members where clients of the automation and controls industry can research systems integrators and automation industry suppliers. System Integrators and Suppliers can use the platform to differentiate themselves from other companies by adding videos, project profiles, case studies and whitepapers. This smart list of CSIA Members can be filtered by industry, specialty, product or vendor.^[6]

References