Exton, PA— The Control and Information System Integrators Association (CSIA) reports that it surpassed 200 members with the largest six-month growth period in its history during the first half of 2003.

This growth was spurred, not only by new U.S. members, but also by integrators joining from around the world. These included associate members, which are companies that manufacture and market industrial automation products, control hardware and software to integrators, and participant members, which are small or recent start-up integration firms that don't yet qualify as regular members.

"We passed the 200-member milestone, but more importantly also got closer to completing our Gold Tier of 'Registered Members,' which reflects a total of 50 members in this group," says Norman O'Leary, CSIA's executive director, in his annual report to CSIA's members.

To earn Registered Member status, a company must pass an intensive audit process that measures its performance against benchmarking criteria in six business areas: general management, human resources, project management, quality management, financial management, and business development. A seventh area, technical management, was added earlier this year, and is being included in the overall registration process.