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.^[1] Its activities include certification, annual conferences, industry-specific business insurance, and an industry best practices manual.

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 3/21/2017, which are listed in their online directory of control systems integrators.^[2]

Events

CSIA organizes an annual conference, the CSIA Executive Conference, held in late April or early May. They also deliver webinars, sales training programs, and workshops on a variety of industry-related subjects. CSIA supports and sponsors industry best practices, such as project management, in its training.

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 client satisfaction measurement, client service, and project quality assurance (PQA)

Version 5.0 of the CSIA Best Practices & Benchmarks manual is expected to be released in 2017, according to the CSIA board of directors.

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, alongside of an ISO certification.

The CSIA began certifying companies in 2000. To be CSIA Certified, a company must be a CSIA member and pass an audit based on 79 of the most critical criteria in the Best Practices manual. Companies must also re-certify every three years. As of early 2017, CSIA had over 500 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 their requirements for 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.

Key Insurance 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 with which clients of the automation and controls industry can research system 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 can be filtered by industry, specialty, product or vendor.^[6]

References