Mottos, slogans and words

By Norm O'Leary, executive director CSIA -- Control Engineering, 12/15/2006

You might recall Shakespeare’s discourse on the word “rose” when he questioned, “What’s in a name?” While a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, those who create mottos go to great lengths to choose specific words with universal meaning and interpretation. That’s why I’m particularly pleased with the new Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) motto: “Translating the Promise of Technology into Performance.”

Those seven words describe exactly what our members do and epitomize just what “control system integration” is all about. Hardware and software currently available from OEMs and manufacturers are so technologically superb for every automation system application that few installations touch on or use anything near their full capabilities. The control system integrator's function is to meet the clients’ performance expectations by integrating this hardware/software equipment into a successful system.

Many firms, large and small, possess the technical qualifications and the staff expertise to accomplish these tasks and call themselves “Control System Integrators.” However, although technical competence is a vital ingredient, it is only one component among many that contribute to operating a successful integration business. That is the rationale behind the formation of CSIA.

The CSIA Value Proposition Statement reads: “CSIA is committed to the business development of control system integration companies and their implementation of best practices in order to provide a healthy, low-risk channel for the application of technology to our industrial clients.”

To accomplish this, we encourage our members to pass an intensive audit performed by an independent third-party consulting firm and meet the stringent performance standards in seven business categories. If they qualify, they become CSIA Certified Members, which sets them apart from most other system integrators. From a User’s perspective, it means your project will be developed, engineered, and directed by skilled technicians, and will be managed by an excellent businessperson as well.

Control system integrators should:

• Translate the promise of technology into performance;
• Meet client performance expectations by successfully integrating hardware/software equipment;
• Pass an intensive audit performed by an independent third-party consulting firm; and
• Meet stringent performance standards in seven business categories to become CSIA Certified Members to ensure projects are developed, engineered, and directed by skilled technicians, and well managed.

To paraphrase the bard: You can count on a CSIA Certified Member to make your automation project run “sweet” as well.

Search on CSIA in the search box atop any page at www.controleng.com for related help.

The CSIA Best Practices and Benchmarks process provides performance standards in seven critical business areas against which CSIA members are audited and measured for qualification for the Certified Member Program. Norm O’Leary is executive director. www.controlsys.org