Let's talk about where the cutting edge of the industrial controls market is. First we can now say, with some assurance, that it is no longer the exclusive province of the major hardware or software manufacturers. If the user really expects to utilize the newest and best that controls technology has to offer, the integration must be done in the open systems marketplace. The major manufacturers, who have long controlled the market through the use of proprietary systems, are in no position to furnish within their product offering all of the latest, greatest, and best technologies. The real place to look for these technologies is in open systems. These are systems that are non-proprietary and offer best-of-class components that can be mixed and matched to provide the best result for the individual application.

Until recently, for the potential user with a large project, implementation of open systems was a substantial problem. Where to find a reliable source of these services, and how do we select the most likely candidate for the critical integration and implementation task? Historically the major controls manufacturers have been the only viable alternative for a proven solution. There were no reliable yardsticks with which to measure the integrators of control and information systems. Recognizing this, The Control and Information Systems Integrators Association instituted an independently audited benchmark class of membership of control systems integrators known as the CSIA Registered Systems Integrator Program. This program, through a unique set of standards developed by CSIA's Best Practices and Benchmarks Committee, establishes standards for control systems integrators that not only assure the user of these services an excellent quality of work, but adherence also assures the user that the control systems integrator selected uses business practices that will keep the company in business to provide continued support for the customer.

The last emerging change in the industry in the area of integration and implementation that makes the open system a practical, safe alternative is the formation of "super control systems integrator networks." The first of these networks is The Automation Alliance Group, LLC. Ten CSIA Registered Information and Control Systems Integrator members formed this group in the fall of 2002. Its purpose was to offer to the marketplace a totally knowledge-based alternative to the traditional proprietary product providers. This group of 10 companies has 23 staffed offices in 17 states, over 200 controls engineers and 200 controls technicians on staff, and over 600 employees in aggregate. Within the 10 companies there dwells nearly any technical or vertical industry controls technical skill required. With locations within 300 miles of 90% of US industry and offices in the EU, Caribbean, and Southeast Asia, The Alliance presents unmatchable, knowledge-based scope of service to the end user. This is a first; look for other similar organizations to follow to enable true open systems to be implemented.

The Control and Information Systems Integrators Association: www.controlsys.org

The Automation Alliance Group, LLC: www.automationalliance.net