Schneider’s North American division adopts CSIA’s audit process

Palatine, IL; Exton, PA—Schneider Electric’s North American operating division announced Sept. 25 that it will adopt the Control and Information System Integrators Association’s (CSIA) audit process as part of its Authorized System Integrator program.

By Control Engineering Staff October 7, 2003

Palatine, IL; Exton, PA— Schneider Electric ’s North American operating division announced Sept. 25 that it will adopt the Control and Information System Integrators Association ’s (CSIA) audit process as part of its Authorized System Integrator program. Schneider Electric joins other global automation market leaders in endorsing CSIA’s program to elevate the role and recognition of system integrators worldwide.

CSIA’s seven-part Best Practices and Benchmarks (BP&B) audit process is an integral part of the association’s Registered Member program, which provides end-users with an important tool to evaluate, select, and manage control system integration firms. It also helps integrators evaluate and continuously improve their businesses. The audit process measures integrators’ performance in seven areas: Business Development, Financial Management, General Management, Human Resources, Project Management, Quality Management, and Technical Management. The process was developed in conjunction with Fortune 500 companies and other users of control system integrators’ services, control manufacturers that often team with these firms, and CSIA’s members.

“We will require that our Schneider Electric Authorized System Integrators join CSIA, implement its BP&B practices, and pass the CSIA audit,” says Edwin Newell, Schneider’s system integrator market manager. “We hope our authorized integrators will become active participants in the association’s programs to enhance the professionalism, stature, and business management skills of system integrators.”

There are presently 30 firms in the North American division’s Authorized System Integrator network. They provide product and application support for automation and control products manufactured by Schneider, including the Telemecanique and Modicon automation product platforms.

“Schneider’s support of our Registered Member program gives the program a big boost,” says Robert Reinhart, CSIA’s chairman. “And, it further confirms our belief that being a good systems integrator goes hand-in-hand with operating a good business! Registered Member designation provides definition to an industry typically characterized by a range of general or vague descriptions.”

Newell adds that, “Schneider Electric North American operating division’s adoption of the CSIA audit process offers important benefits to our integrators and their customers:

We believe our Authorized Integrators will benefit from membership in CSIA and, even more so, as they complete the audit process and become Registered Members;

Encouraging our Authorized Integrators to participate in the audit process will bring numerous top-notch system integrators into the organization and add further credibility to the entire CSIA program; and

Finally, Schneider Electric and its customers will benefit from the certification of our integrators through a process developed and maintained by integrators, for integrators.”

Control Engineering Daily News DeskJim Montague, news editor jmontague@reedbusiness.com