Quarterly Newsletter

July 2022

Message from the CEO

By Jose Rivera

We made it! The CSIA Executive Conference returned to life June 27-30, 2022, in Denver.

Conference Was a Success!

This culminated a long and arduous planning effort fully loaded with COVID-19-driven uncertainties. Preparations for conferences starts early with the venue selection, ideally two years ahead of the event. Theme and content guidelines start just a few weeks after the conclusion of the prior conference.

We do this while the memories and feedback are fresh on our minds. COVID-19 forced us to work on multiple scenarios while reducing the financial exposure for CSIA. We started the process before the massive Omicron wave at the end of 2021.

The city of Denver later imposed a vaccination mandate for events like ours, which was dropped before the conference and the pandemic had moved in the right direction. The later-than-usual schedule helped us avoid the Omicron surge, but it conflicted with family vacation plans for several members.

In the end we were ecstatic with an attendance of 525, which was very close to the record of 534 (2019 Asheville and 2014 San Diego). It certainly exceeded expectations. Thank you for your participation and for making the conference a success.

Read the full article.

The Democratization of Data Analysis

By Steve Pavlosky

One of the fascinating impacts of the age of IoT is the merging of two trends – a workforce of digital natives that are comfortable with technology, and technology toolsets that simplify the task of creating applications that show operators the right mashups of information from various business systems on their device of choice.

The newest generation of web technology-based application development tools are designed with the following capabilities:

Drag and drop, code-free application building
Mobile operator support, including responsiveness to device type (desktop, tablet, phone, smartwatch)
Asset model context for data and analysis tools
Security features allowing control of data visibility and application functionality (read only vs. read write, for example)
Unlimited developer and runtime licenses

Read the full article.

This content is sponsored by GE Digital.

Quickies

By Lisa Richter

In no order, a few sundries:

Don’t get locked out: If you are a current CSIA member and you haven’t set up your new account, you will be locked out of content behind the paywall, your account and members-only events, like the upcoming ITR Economics virtual keynote! You should have received an email with instructions – if you haven’t, check your spam folder. [Members only]
Let’s make a deal: Membership dues and CSIA Exchange upgrades and packages are 50% off right now (since we are half way through the year). Contact Lisa Richter to find out how you can cash in on these savings.
Envelope please: Congrats to the 2022 CSIA Awards winners!
Check your junk: I’m noticing more legit email is getting trapped in spam folders lately – so please check yours and whitelist any CSIA emails. Thank you!
Hey Good Lookin: Re-live the memories or see what you missed by browsing through the 2022 CSIA Executive Conference photos on Facebook. If you don’t give a Zuck – or want to browse the entire catalog – you can do so here.

Questions? Send me an email, I’m here for it.

Lisa Richter is director of industry outreach and growth for Control System Integrators Association in Chicago. She can be reached at industrydir@controlsys.org.

IT Security in Industrial Remote Access

This white paper first takes a look at the basic working principles of the remote access system provided by Red Lion. This is followed by a detailed presentation of the relevant components in terms of their security aspects, plus a solution strategy designed to meet the strictest IT security standards.

Download the entire white paper here.

This content was sponsored by Red Lion Controls.

How to Become a Magnetic Organization:

3 Tips for Industrial Automation Firms

By Bryan Powrozek

Industrial automation firms face serious competition for talent in 2022 and beyond. Industry trends pointing to higher customer demand in the years ahead combined with uncertainties about post-pandemic work norms will make it more challenging for employers to attract, retain and engage the workforce they’ll need to stay competitive.

Here are three strategies systems integrators and industrial automation firms can apply to create a magnetic organization and become an employer of choice.

1. Embrace Change

In what many employers are framing as a “post-pandemic” work environment, there are mixed views on return-to-office policies. Some companies are pushing to get everyone back in a traditional office setting, while others are considering remote and hybrid arrangements as permanent alternatives.

Two emerging staffing realities in the industrial automation sector include recruiting broadening nationwide with applicants demanding more flexibility. Those who aren’t leaving the traditional workforce altogether appear to be gravitating toward employers that offer a cultural connection in addition to geographical and upward mobility.

Read the full article.

CSIA Executive Conference Recap

By Brian Clifford and Mark Voigtmann

Wow! It was great to see so many of you — in person! — at the CSIA 2022 Executive Conference. But if you were unable to attend this fantastic event (or if you missed a couple of the sessions you wanted to see), here are just a few of the things that the automation lawyers at Faegre Drinker were talking about regarding The Future of Work:

Several jurisdictions (including Colorado, where the conference was held) have recently enacted, or are currently considering, new limitations on non-compete terms and other restrictive employment agreements. Have you used your benefits under the CSIA Legal Plan to see if your company’s policies will continue to comply with such new regulations?

Supply chain disruptions continue to have far-reaching impacts on the industry. The crafting of reasonable “force majeure” provisions and “price escalation” terms were among the contract negotiation concepts discussed in a break-out session. And your company can use the benefits of the CSIA Legal Plan to incorporate such stipulations into your proposals and customer agreements.

The role of system integrators in the implementation of cybersecurity policies also was discussed in a break-out session. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to this rapidly evolving, global challenge — but the Faegre Drinker automation lawyers can help you establish your company’s risk profile and service offerings in this area.

Read the full article.

ICYMI

Here’s your quarterly roundup of recent content you may have missed.

Talking Industrial Automation Podcast

If you are a podcast fan, you’ll want to check out CSIA’s Talking Industrial Automation. Some of the latest episodes include:

Episode 66: Walker Mattox of Gray Solutions talks about how he, as founder, led the exponential growth of Gray Solutions from two Solutioneers to the 12^th largest system integrator as recognized by Control Engineering.

Episode 67: Tony Valasek of EOSYS recounts the company’s switch to an employee-owned structure and subsequent total rebrand.

Episode 68: This crossover episode with The Sounds of Automation recaps what CSIA is all about and previews the 2022 CSIA Executive Conference.

Episode 69: Xavier Mesrobian of Skkynet discusses cybersecurity, remote monitoring, predictive analytics and artificial intelligence through his lens of more than 20 years in the industry.

Episode 70: A panel of experts, moderated by Bryan Powrozek, reveal the key business drivers that not only position an SI company for maximum value as it prepare for a sale, but also can drive strategy and growth. Note: This is an encore presentation of the MasterClass Business Value: GPS for Your Business.

Business and Technical Webinars

CSIA members and industry experts share their expertise in these free virtual event recordings.

Best Practices Deployment: The People Component

Business Value: GPS for Your Business

Here's What You Can Expect at the Timely 2022 CSIA Executive Conference

Micro Data Center, Industrial Edge Solutions: Deployments Made Simple, Reliable and ‎Secure

Hardening Your System Against Cyber Attacks

Ethernet in Hazardous Areas

Interested in being a podcast guest or guest blogger? Both are available to member organizations that have upgraded to a Gold Profile or higher. Contact Lisa Richter to learn how you can take advantage of these opportunities to share your thought leadership.

LATAM Update / Noticias de LATAM

CSIA Annual Executive Conference 2022

By Carolina Casas Anzola

And the big day arrived, as a result of the effort, resilience and above all the great participation of our members and sponsors, it was possible to see each other again, to return to the 2022 CSIA Executive Conference in Denver.

When the date of this conference was confirmed, the desire for a reunion was expressed to get together again and to see each other; but beyond those wishes was the desire to start over. Without a doubt, I can tell you that the 2022 conference has been the fresh start and kickoff of new opportunities that all of our members will seize into the future. From now on, the whole CSIA team will take a new impulse, that together with the sponsors and members, we will be able to consolidate many business successes again.

Read the full story.

CSIA Conferencia Anual Ejecutiva 2022

Por Carolina Casas Anzola

Y llegó el gran día, como resultado del esfuerzo, resiliencia y sobre todo la gran participación de ‎nuestros miembros y patrocinadores es que fue posible volvernos a ver, regresar la conferencia anual ‎de la CSiA en Denver 2022.‎

Cuando se confirmó la fecha de esta conferencia se manifestó el deseo de un reencuentro, de volver a ‎juntarnos, de vernos; pero más allá de esos deseos estaba el ánimo de volver a empezar. Tener un ‎nuevo comienzo, y sin duda, puedo decirles que la conferencia 2022 ha sido el Kickoff de las nuevas ‎oportunidades que todos nuestros miembros aprovecharán hacia el futuro. De hoy en adelante todo ‎el equipo de la CSiA tomará un nuevo impulso, que junto a los patrocinadores y miembros lograremos ‎consolidar nuevamente muchos éxitos de negocio.‎

Lee la historia completa.

Media Opportunities

Did you know that CSIA can help you get published in the trade press? Get your expertise noticed by potential clients when you take advantage of the media opportunities that come with your CSIA membership.

Browse upcoming opportunities here. [Members only]