When computers first arrived on the factory floor and in control houses, people who understood both industrial processes and information technology were needed to design, engineer and implement electronic control systems.
The Control System Integrators Association was established by a group of independent control system integrators brought together by Charlie Bergman. Charlie published a newsletter promoting and supporting the independent control system integrator.
In 1993, Charlie hosted a meeting for about 25 subscribers. The following year, CSIA was established as an affiliate of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association at a meeting held in Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
From the outset, the common thread throughout CSIA’s activities has been to raise the bar, as well as to:
- Improve the business skills of its members.
- Help integration firms of all sizes, engineering specialties, product experience and industry knowledge share their collective business wisdom to help control their individual destinies.
- Provide a forum for members to discuss common business issues.
- Enhance the professionalism of independent control and information system integrators.
- Communicate the resulting benefits to the broad business community.
From Charlie’s vision came the key, defining concept of the future CSIA: Sharing – knowledge, best practices, key performance indicators – to advance the success of all. “Charlie told us to share ideas with one another, and it would come back tenfold,” said Pat Miller, a 2002 award winner from Engineered Energy Solutions.
It’s an ethos that lives on to this day.