More Info on Control System Integrators Association (CSIA)
CSIA is a global, not-for-profit, professional association for control system integration companies. Control System Integrators utilize industrial automation equipment and software in the implementation of their projects in a wide variety of industries. Our primary mission is to advance control system integration for the success of our members and their clients. We provide our member companies around the world with methods and opportunities to help them operate their companies as well as possible.
When it comes to operational improvements, tight time constraints can be a problem. A partner who can help get some long-forgotten initiatives off the ground may be the key to...
Figuring out which analytics platform works for you may, at first, seem daunting, developing a strategy and small-scale analytics pilots could what helps you finally make that...
Sustainability is on the mind of many companies, but are they using one of their most valuable assets? A system integrator can possibly be the missing link to making your organization...
There are a lot of parts to be aware of when developing a flexible batching system. However, if you want to ensure operational efficiency, developing well-balanced phases is the...
Planning to move your organization into a more digital environment can often be complex, but it’s happening whether you like it or not. Business process modeling can help you ...
Introducing the newest technology to your facility may come with a steep learning curve, but the benefits are especially large when it comes to a reduction in downtime troubleshooting...
In any automation project, there are multiple tasks that need to be handled all at the same time. An Umbrella System Integrator can help an organization consolidate these issues...
Though digitalization is a process that is often seen as great, the benefits are not the same for everyone. Asking how digitalization is going to benefit your organization may...
From project development to general productivity, having an agile system in a systems integrator world is extremely beneficial. Jeff Miller lays out how your company can benefit...
While it's great to have experts on your team, tribal knowledge can cause major problems to your workflow as teams get reorganized. These tips will help you manage and avoid tribal...
Having an experienced controls expert on your design team will bring valuable insight into what needs to be addressed during the design phase and how to implement it.
COVID-19 has transformed individual's and businesses' approach to technology, production, and community. However, these changes will last beyond the pandemic, continuing to impact...
Superior Controls' senior project engineer guides you through an efficient and thorough engineering document review to use on your next technical project.
CSIA's Industrial Automation Exchange is designed to connect the discrete manufacturing and process industries to control system integrators and suppliers.
The Industrial Automation Exchange helps manufacturers find a system integrator through several different pathways, moving past the directory model into a more social setting....
A panel of certified control system integrators share the hard questions end users should be asking to ensure they get the automation systems they need. They spoke to attendees...
A joint survey conducted by Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) and JP Morgan offers insight into the near-term outlook for the discrete manufacturing and process industries...
How connecting your enterprise resource planning and manufacturing execution systems eliminates manual data entry, reduces errors and transforms operations with real-time visibility...
A pharmaceutical company’s automation upgrade shows how simulations can be used to test equipment limits, standardize systems and save valuable product.
From increased operational efficiencies to reduced downtime and improved sustainability, integrating analytics into plant automation systems builds distinct competitive advantages...
An IT/OT network assessment compiles a full inventory of connected assets, maps communication paths, and pinpoints performance and cybersecurity gaps within a manufacturing facility...
The boundary between IT and OT is dissolving. Manufacturers that continue to treat them as separate domains risk inefficiency and missed opportunities. By integrating MES-ERP ...
Lessons from the energy industry show manufacturers of all types why true visibility means more than having access to data; it means turning that data into timely, trustworthy...
As technology demands intensify across manufacturing sectors, the industry is experiencing a fundamental shift away from proprietary silos and vendor lock-in toward open, flexible...
It’s critical to understand the basic steps involved in an automation roadmap. Whether your project involves IT or OT upgrades, new PLCs, or robots and autonomous vehicles, the...
Magnum’s controls integration engineers use AI for research, brainstorming and validation while maintaining human oversight for core code development and to ensure the prioritization...
When executing any project, methodology will only take you so far. Ultimately, it comes down to robust communication, schedule alignment, budget awareness, solid planning and ...
By translating complex automation logic into plain language, control narratives ensure clear communication between technical teams and plant stakeholders for successful industrial...
When key automation technologies, such as servo drives, are discontinued, manufacturers face critical decisions. Adopting a proactive approach to upgrades offers performance improvement...
Fragmented OT support leads to costly downtime and security risks. Control systems integrators provide unified management, faster incident resolution, proactive maintenance and...
Manufacturing's risk-averse culture is delaying AI adoption, but the industry’s workforce is aging and economic pressures are mounting. This means there’s still time for early...
Manufacturing execution systems (MES) generate mountains of data. Deciphering the data, however, often consumes hours daily. Machine learning can quickly transform MES data into...
At the heart of the transformation from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 lies the manufacturing execution system (MES) — no longer just a tool for tracking production but the enabler...
Ingredient variability has long been the enemy of product consistency in batch processing. However, the use of moisture sensing technology that automatically adjusts ingredient...
Manufacturers can benefit from moving beyond traditional system integration projects and toward main automation partner relationships to align every automation project with overarching...
How contextualizing plant data and teaching AI to think like seasoned operators can bridge the skills gap and revolutionize decision-making on the shop floor.
As industrial facilities face mounting pressures to increase uptime, reduce costs and manage workforce limitations, the need for responsive, scalable support services has grown...
Some wonder if AI will replace PID control loops. The reality is that, instead of replacing PID, AI is stepping in to help keep things running smoothly without upending regulatory...
Understanding what AI can do to improve your production processes, how to prepare your operations data, and factors to consider when selecting AI technologies are all critical...
End of arm tooling is more than just a robot attachment — it’s a critical factor of automation. By carefully considering design factors and selecting the appropriate EoAT, automated...
As manufacturers move toward Industry 4.0, manufacturing execution systems can be foundational to these efforts because the technology’s analytics provided in moving data from...
As artificial intelligence revolutionizes manufacturing, adoption of the technology is still hindered by challenges like data quality, legacy infrastructure and workforce adaptation...
It’s not about deploying new technology for technology’s sake, it’s about getting advanced tools into the hands of the people to create smarter operations and transform manufacturing...
With the help of MES software’s production monitoring capabilities and AI’s predictive and analytical power, food and beverage manufacturers can foster profitable and practical...
Manufacturing execution system software, when implemented correctly, can highlight the biggest problem areas in the factory to drive ROI goals such as boosting yields, reducing...
Manufacturing execution systems have long been recognized as middleware between plant floor control systems and enterprise systems. But they also serve as a middleman for data...
By leveraging artificial intelligence, the manufacturing industries are at the edge of a transformative era where optimal production becomes the norm rather than the exception...
Early discussions between integrators and manufacturers that focus on too many preconceived approaches or preconfigured software can limit capabilities, lead to a lack of engagement...
System integrators can help manufacturers benefit from the connectivity that technologies like Inductive Automation’s Vision and Perspective deliver across the entire enterprise...
As you think about cybersecurity, determine how much downtime or monetary loss you can afford due to a cyber attack. Understanding what you’re willing to risk can help determine...
To mitigate digital transformation issues, focus on clear goal identification, strategic definition and execution of small iterative projects that deliver tangible value.
When organizations continue to run mature or obsolete supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and programmable logic controllers (PLCs), there are several business...
When advanced manufacturing projects are executed, existing employees gain new skills, take on higher value and more engaging work, and leave behind to automation the repeatable...
Building a large greenfield (new) plant is a great opportunity for a manufacturer. However, it’s important to take the right approach to get buy in and not lose people over the...
Given the chemical processor’s complex system, integrator ECS Solutions used unmodified Rockwell Automation PlantPAx objects for the processor’s recent automation upgrade to allow...
Not so long ago, the food and beverage manufacturing industry was among the slowest industry verticals to adopt new production technologies. But now, with the industry growing...
Last month I asked ChatGPT which benefits its integration with a manufacturing execution system (MES) could provide and what the role of a system integrator could be in such a...
Operating in a technically and physically demanding field requires tremendous coordination and a team of knowledgeable and experienced personnel. Here’s how to determine if an...
Though there are no specific rules on how long or detailed a functional description should be, it's author should keep in mind that it’s dependent on the user's needs and the ...
Key aspects of equipment integration into the manufacturing process are often overlooked. These machine-to-enterprise integration methodologies and tips will help you create a...
I worked with ChatGPT to learn about its potential applications with manufacturing execution system (MES) software. After working with it for a while, I got the answer shown below...
Being aware of social engineering practices is the first step in protecting you, your team and network, as well as being a good starting point for a holistic cybersecurity approach...
To maintain uptime, ensure compliance, and maximize the use of skilled labor, more facilities than ever are centralizing production control and monitoring.
Applying heuristic usability principles is a great strategy to evaluate the usability of your industrial interface graphical design without swapping existing graphical assets....
Following the manufacturer’s guidelines when swapping out PLC hardware will only get you part of the way to a successful controller upgrade. I/O card issues, rack space, communications...
How the scripting libraries in Inductive Automation’s Ignition software make it easier to test functions and audit code to ensure standards compliance and make it easier to review...
The strong link between system integrators and UN initiatives for sustainability represents not only a responsibility for integrators, but a strong motivation to grow their impact...
Plant floor network upgrades, legacy system migration, and exploration of new tech—such as unified namespace, analytics and artificial intelligence—will all likely play major ...
With Inductive Automation’s Perspective module, companies can have access to all the web-functionality tools they want while also linking to legacy systems.
As more industrial companies migrate data and operations technology to the cloud, there can be concerns over the effect this might have on operations. By starting small or with...
Harnessing technology to go paperless and digitalize tasks unlocks human efficiency by synchronizing processes, machinery, and people to strike the perfect smart factory balance...
During any technology assessment to determine the need for an upgrade, a direct line of communication from integrators to decision makers and maintenance and engineering teams...
Because system integrators work with many of the technologies that support the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, industry should be aware of how integrators...
From sustainability to demographic taste and buying experience preferences, food and beverage companies, in particular, face an array of market issues that affect production and...
Create a suitable project budget that addresses your immediate needs and Industry 4.0 initiatives to formulate a migration plan with an integrator partner that drives operational...
Not all mistakes are created equal—most can be recovered from, but some leave a lasting impact. Here are 6 common mistakes that industry professionals and system integrators will...
The U.S. manufacturing industry is looking at a potential shortage of 2.4 million workers in the next decade. Here are my tips on how to overcome this shortage with more effective...
System Integrator Interstates introduces its Smart Hands service to remotely address maintenance activities that can distract from your employees’ core job duties.
The goal is not to just donate money or goods, but to provide support on a professional basis to help Ukrainian system integrators keep their businesses and families alive.
From a lack of unified key performance indicators and overly conservative scheduling to determining the best time to perform maintenance, addressing specific communication issues...
Why Industry 4.0 success requires visibility into all connected points on an industrial network, as well as threat detection and displays of the network’s health and integrity...
In highly regulated industries, quality and validation procedures can be make or break, and getting them right requires working with system integrators who have industry-specific...
While discussion about AI and smart manufacturing abound, they are less common in practice. TilliT’s James Balzary shares some tips on how companies can begin applying digital...
When undertaking a controls project, beginning with an installed base evaluation can help determine if a retrofit or complete upgrade will be more advantageous in the long run...
Unless commissioning protocols are updated, automation control software may become difficult to perform validation testing on as machine learning and AI become more common.
The decision to upgrade a control system was once a calculation based on risk reduction. Now, it also includes evaluating and weighing new features and options.
While you may not be able to make the leap from PLC to ERP integration all at once, beginning the journey toward OT/IT Integration is now more important than ever before.
Though often taken for granted, palletizing systems are a critical plant asset that should not be neglected when it comes time to make automation upgrades.
Differing standards imparted by universities, mentors, and previous companies can cause clashes as projects grow in complexity. Luckily, effective technical training offers an...
As industrial cybersecurity threats increase, taking every measure possible to secure vulnerable OT systems is vital, particularly in a legacy environment.
As more companies pursue digital transformation, system integrators can play an important role by helping to bridge the knowledge gap between IT and OT.
Often, limitations in time, staff, and resources lead companies to skip the design phase when pursuing automation projects. However, doing so can be extremely detrimental.
Three value drivers of analytics platforms are confidence in vendor, development effort, and platform cost. Discover how software-as-a-service platforms and opensource platforms...
What happens if the internet goes out? What happens to our data during an outage? Will my HMI/SCADA still talk to my PLCs? Discover answers and solutions that will set you up ...
In today's job market, its essential to consider implementing a training program for new employees. Discover why Superior Controls created their automation training program and...
Artificial intelligence can aid in remedying some of the pain points in manufacturing, such as maintaining consistent product quality, need for predictive maintenance, and demand...
System integrators go beyond merely answering the question of why digitization on the shop floor is essential by providing how to complete your digital transformation seamlessly...
