A rise in 2007 membership and global presence is reported by Control System Integrators Association (CSIA). According to executive director Norman O’Leary, CSIA has surpassed the 300-member level, added 59 new members (a one-year record). It has extended its global reach to encompass North, Central, and South America, as well as Europe from the U.K. to the Czech Republic. Members were also added in the Middle East, Australia, and Asia, including control system integrators in China, India, Japan, and Russia.

“Our expanded mass and reach will enable CSIA to provide members even more valuable business tools – and opportunities – to facilitate their delivery of the key automation services that manufacturers worldwide need to grow,” said O’Leary.

Robert Zeigenfuse, chairman of the CSIA Executive Board, and president of CSIA member Advanced Automation, said, CSIA’s “continuing growth further strengthens our status as the premier organization worldwide for system integrators specializing in automating industrial and manufacturing applications. It is no coincidence that we made such dramatic progress during the year in which we reached a very important milestone – the achievement by our 100th member of certified status. Our certified members bring to their projects a proven set of business management capabilities – beyond their acknowledged technical superiority – confirmed by the rigorous audit process that leads to certification.”

The program, established in 2002, recognizes and verifies performers in system integration and helps users to select an integrator for an automation project. It is based on user needs to assess a prospective integrator’s business practices. O’Leary pointed out that the most significant benefit of achieving certification is realized by the integrators, who use the process to evaluate and improve their businesses.

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