|
Project Management Training begins March 8!
|
Register today! Starts March 8
CSIA has heard your requests for project management training, and have partnered with ISA to deliver live, web-based project management training, specific to system integration companies and consistent with CSIA Best Practices©. The course is designed to prepare attendees to deliver on their daily project management responsibilities. Content coverage includes project initiation, definition/planning, execution, control, close out and related phases. Roles and requirements are also discussed, along with the techniques and tools needed to work with client organization project managers.
|
|
Executive Conference - Road to Puerto Rico
|
Another record year? The countdown has begun
Wow! We just ran the registration numbers for the 2016 CSIA Executive Conference in Puerto Rico, April 19 - 22. We're tracking 26% higher than last year at this time!
We knew that Puerto Rico and our program offerings would be popular. That's why we've been encouraging you to register early and book your rooms at the Gran Melia right away. If you haven't gotten around to securing your spot, do it now. We'd hate to miss you!
|
|
Executive Conference on film
|
Get ready for your close up at the Executive Conference
The CSIA Integrator Marketing committee is excited to kick off a new video initiative at the upcoming Executive Conference. Throughout the conference, we will be filming interviews with CSIA members, sponsors and friends. Our goal is to generate a video content series aimed at promoting our association and educating web visitors on ways to leverage their CSIA affiliation.
The video series will touch on a variety of topics including the value of membership, certification, benchmarking and peer groups. We look forward to channeling the enthusiasm of the Executive Conference and to hearing from the CSIA community.
If you are interested in participating in a video interview at the conference or have suggestions for video topics you would like to see on CSIA's website please contact Jeanne Rosen at
[email protected].
|
|
Executive Conference Unconferences
|
Channel your inner reporter
CSIA is looking for Executive Conference attendees to cover the conversations that come out of the
Unconference sessions and share their reports in the Open Forum.
|
|
Schneider Electric recognizes the value of CSIA Certification
In February, I attended the Schneider Electric Global Software Partner Summit at the
Software Business headquarters in Lake Forest, California
. During this annual event for strategic software partners a key
announcement was delivered by Gary Tillery, the leader of the Software
Partner Group. Schneider Electric Global Software is requiring CSIA
certification (or equivalent) for their "Endorsed" SI partner level -- their
top tier category in the Wonderware SI Partner Program. This represents a
major recognition of the value delivered through our Best Practices and
associated Certification program.
|
 |
|
|
It has been an active month in CSIA's Connected Community
Check it out, and while you are at it, chime in on some of the ongoing discussions:
What are fellow Integrator Companies using, if anything, for automated Document Control and Versioning for such files as Word docs, spreadsheets, project schedules, SOPs, ACAD drawings - anything considered either internal company records OR anything considered client project-related?
(3 responses as of 3/1/2016)
Recently our company has been having issues with dropped emails, trouble sending, and our domain being blocked by other companies. We are looking for suggestions for a more reliable email domain host. There are many choices for 3rd party hosts that vary widely in cost. Do most CSIA members host their own email or use third party hosting? What are your experiences in terms of reliability with these services?
(10 responses
as of 3/1/2016)
What social media do you use to promote your business? Have you seen success?
(7 responses
as of 3/1/2016)
|
Who qualifies for CSIA's insurance program
I have received a request to clarify which members are eligible for our
outstanding general and professional liability insurance. Eligibility is
determined by the countries wherein our insurance carrier/company is
licensed to transact business. Any member with an office within the United
States is eligible regardless of whether the office is the head or a branch
office.
|
Get ready for the new CSIA Legal Plan
Effectively managing legal risk is not just a recognized best practice of CSIA members, it is one that is essential to sustained success for companies generally. For control system integrators, such risks extend through nearly every business decision, from the hiring of key employees, to the signing of contracts, and to the identification, preservation and development of intellectual property.
Since 2003, CSIA has made available to its members legal advice from the automation lawyers of Faegre Baker Daniels (FaegreBD). This advice has come in the form of presentations on legal topics at the annual Executive Conference and regular articles in the CSIA newsletter.
|
|
CSIA held its second quarterly LATAM event in Mexico. The event
was sponsored by Anixter.
|
Building CSIA's influence in Latin America
Our Latin America operation continues to grow and strengthen itself, as we look to deliver on the aggressive LATAM membership goals for this year. We have added a support person to the LATAM team. Lucy Vega will be in charge of logistics and administration for the region.
|
|
Industrial Automation Exchange
|
"Thanks Tony. I owe you a beer in PR!"
That's what one member told me this week when he received an RFQ from an end user through the Industrial Automation Exchange.
Recently I've been reminding you to customize your Exchange profiles, whether you have an upgraded package or not. This member would not have been contacted if his profile looked like it had never been updated.
All CSIA members have at least a Bronze profile, which establishes your company presence on the Exchange. Your Exchange profile is one of your member benefits. Read the article below on updating your company's profile to learn how to get started.
By the way, no need to buy me a beer. We'll be in Puerto Rico; A rum and Coke is fine. ;)
|
|
If you're not updating your company's profile, you're not maximizing your CSIA membership
As a CSIA member you have a benefit that you may not be maximizing and IT'S FREE! It's your CSIA Exchange Profile. I can't stress enough how important the Exchange is in your CSIA marketing/branding efforts.
- CSIA Exchange helps client awareness of your company
- CSIA Exchange confirms your company's validity, as clients research in multiple locations, prior to reaching out. Getting them to your website might not be enough. The explanation for why is in this article.
- Using our content marketing features will attract our visitors to your profile and send them to your website. They will also create more relevant external links to your site.
|
|
Our newest Exchange subscribers. Join them!
|
|
Instituting Best Practices - Two Integrators' Perspectives
Thursday, March 17 at 11 a.m. EST
Presented by Charles I. Sheets, PE, director, Industrial Systems Division, Matrix Technologies, Inc.; and Steve Palmgren, PE, VP of Texas Operations, Patti Engineering, Inc.
CSIA monthly webinars are sponsored by Software Toolbox
.
|
Partner Members: Host a webinar in 2016 and connect with SI members
Partner members, did you know as part of your membership you can host a Partner Technical Webinar?
Need ideas on what to present? Educate our SI members and their clients with a white paper or case study. Highlight a challenge or trend in a certain industry.
One partner reported recently that they received phone calls from attendees immediately after their webinar!
Email
Tony Veroeven
to get one scheduled in 2016.
|
| Schneider Electric Global Partner Summit 2016 |
CSIA CEO delivered keynote speech
The Schneider Electric Software business had the opportunity to hear from
three leading industry keynote speakers, including CSIA CEO Jose Rivera, at
the annual Global Partner Summit held February 22-26 at the software
headquarters in Lake Forest, California.
|
| Industrial cybersecurity and functional safety |
Could your customers benefit from gaining a better understanding of industrial cybersecurity and functional safety?
How confident are your customers with the level of security on their controls network? Are you confident they are educated and capable of following best practices to protect their "big data" upon completion of a project delivered by you? Does their process meet the latest functional safety standards?
Maybe your customers are not requesting this from you as their control system integrator of choice, but it is an important topic worth discussion. Blame can sometimes be put on the wrong party if a malicious attack to a network or an accident occurs to a safety system after a recent project is completed.
|
| IoT creates data-driven revenue streams opportunities for system integrators |
Second article in a series of three
IoT creates real business opportunities for system integrators. The
following real example illustrates how installed automation infrastructure
can be leveraged towards value added services. By embracing IoT technology,
system integrators can create value for their customers, and in the process
open up new revenue streams for themselves. Tips for are provided as well.
|
| OPC Foundation delivers easy data integration |
What's the buzz with IoT, IIOT, Industrie 4.0, and M2M?
Why should system integrators care about this technology? Would deploying this newfangled technology actually help lower expenses, increase revenue, or make life simpler for customers?
Everyone's talking about connectivity and interoperability with the explosion of devices that keep rolling out on a daily basis. The value proposition from a business perspective for a system integrator is to keep their customers happy by leveraging technology innovations that make sense to increase the bottom line.
Read more.
|
|
