Talking Industrial Automation

Frustrated with the lack of tools to reliably communicate among different process areas, Andrew Thomas decided to do something about it. So in 1995, he and a partner developed real, real-time communication software that resulted in a program called Cogent Real Time Systems.

Over the following two-plus decades, he continued to reiterate eventually resulting in what is now called Skkynet -- a platform that enables real-time data conn...

For many CSIA members, the Best Practices Manual is THE reason they joined the associaition -- and for good reason. The BP Manual Best Practices Manual is the most comprehensive collection of best practices within a system integrators industry. This crowdsourced, comprehensive document -- written by integrators for integrators --...

"People are like an unstable PID loop," jokes Keith Mandachit of Huffman Engineering in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation. Hear what else he and his fellow panelists Andrew Palmberg (Technical Systems Inc) and Becca Johnson (Gray Solutions) have to share about growing into a leadership role during the encore presentation of a CSIA Emerging Leaders SIG virtual event from 2021. 

The discussion is led by John Sullivan of D...

Drawing on her experience as a certified speaking professional and best selling author, Lisa Ryan offers some advice for companies that want to retain talent and build a company culture that makes employees  want to stay. Along the way, she also gives some tips on publi...

Since April 2019, Stratus has completely revamped its partner ecosystem and the programs that support it, providing greater benefits to the partners while driving double digit growth for Stratus reports Mike Bradshaw, ...

A former colleague once called Theresa Benson “corporate spackle” because she comes in and fills in the gaps quickly, diagnosing issues and moving people forward in the face of ambiguity.

As a product storyteller and strategist with over 20 years of experience in high tech, Thersa is currently helping her clients understands what makes something valuable and then helps them tell their story in the way that their market needs to hea...

A former colleague once called Theresa Benson “corporate spackle” because she comes in and fills in the gaps quickly, diagnosing issues and moving people forward in the face of ambiguity.

As a product storyteller and strategist with over 20 years of experience in high tech, Thersa is currently helping her clients understands what makes something valuable and then helps them tell their story in the way that their market needs to hea...

As hosts of Automation Ladies -- the only podcast -- that we know of -- where women (mostly) talk about Industrial Automation, Alicia Gilpin (Ali G.) and Nikki Gonzales provide a unique perspective on the industrial automation industry. For their day jobs, Ali G. is owner of Process and Controls Engineering LLC. while Nikki is is building an online marketplace and workflow automation platform for industrial automation distributors ...

As hosts of Automation Ladies -- the only podcast -- that we know of -- where women (mostly) talk about Industrial Automation, Alicia Gilpin (Ali G.) and Nikki Gonzales provide a unique perspective on the industrial automation industry. For their day jobs, Ali G. is owner of Process and Controls Engineering LLC. while Nikki is is building an online marketplace and workflow automation platform for industrial automation distributors ...

In this episode, we’re talking industrial automation as usual but instead of hearing from one or two guests, you’re going to get to hear from a lot of them – hot mike style-ish because I grabbed random 2022 Rockwell Automation Fair attendees as they stopped by the CSIA booth and hit record.

So what you are about to listen to is a series of micro-interviews from people in all kinds of roles from around the world who were brave enoug...

After moving their family out of state to start Huffman Engineering based on a PO, Wendy and Howard Huffman were handed a piece of paper that said the project they left everythy for was cancelled.

But despite that setback -- and early Hot Stove Lession -- the Huffmans went on to spend the next three decades building a business they can feel proud of. 

Hear about their journey, core values and success stories in this episode of Talk...

Did you know NASA uses WIN-911 software to test the rockets for the new Artemis program? Hear about other examples -- such as how Dubai keeps aquatic species alive in the middle of the desert, New Zealand monitors seismic activity and UK company in its environmental remediation across Europe from Cody Bann, WIN-911 Software's director of engineering.

Plus, find out the Win-911 origin story and more in this episode of Talking Indust...

System integrators are in a unique position to impact billions of peoples' lives, which makes it imperative that the industry take DE&I seriously exlains Cassy Garner in this episode of Talking Industrial Automation.

She also believes its just plain good for business -- which is backed d up with data -- and solving other challenges like recruitment and retention.

Cassy also provides other persepctives about life at Banks Integratio...

The concept of business value can be used like GPS to help businesses find the best route.

In this encore presentation moderated by Bryan Powrozek of Clayton & McKervey, panelists Jane Tereba (Capital Valuation Group), Ben Smith (Clayton & McKervey) and Clint Bundy (The Bundy Group) as they discuss the key factors in determining a business's value -- and how to manipulate those levers strategically to position it for growth, and, u...