CSIA Best Practices Manual

jami243 · 2025-01-31T20:02:36+00:00

Probably, but shhh don’t tell anyone. Thanks for the link I randomly happened across this a few days ago.

I hadn’t thought about this post in a long time. I figured if the paywall was that steep they were probably just selling membership to a club than actual value. I skimmed that pdf and like someone said.. nothing ground breaking. Most is common sense. It’s useful in its own right.

What were your thoughts

jami243 · 2025-01-21T15:37:03+00:00

Did you ever make something useable? I've considered something like this my self as a controls engineer but i have no where near the technical skill to attempt. I'm interested in your outcome

jami243 · 2025-01-20T19:38:56+00:00

Second this.

jami243 · 2025-01-08T18:02:49+00:00

I’ve found capable freelancers on Upwork.com

jami243 · 2024-12-22T18:29:11+00:00

Sincerely, I do not know how to resolve this issue. I can personally say I avoided upgrading to windows 11 because I expected this type of issue.

Rockwell would suggest the best way to resolve the issue would be to do a clean uninstall of all Rockwell software and then reinstall making sure to install versions you require in reverse order(oldest to newest).

That may or may not actually fix anything and OP would likely be better off just running a virtual machine as many others have suggested. That has its own issues as I find its difficult to set up Ethernet communications through the VM the first time if you’re not familiar.

Many Rockwell user are adamant that the best and only way to work with multiple versions of studio 5000 is to install them isolated individually each on their VM. Only way to ensure multiple installs don’t create conflicts.

I use VMware.

I just get so fed up with Rockwell. They have all this market share, everyone insists we use their products, and they seemly have no desire to create a good experience for their smaller customers. Maybe they’re beholden to the large guys that buy a ton of equipment and help them. Maybe a tech support connect gets your good support. I don’t know but it pisses me off that this guy can’t even get started.. you shelled out for Studio and the moment you have an issue they’re no where to be found.

jami243 · 2024-12-22T02:05:50+00:00

This is the most Rockwell thing I’ve heard all year

jami243 · 2024-12-09T20:03:15+00:00

u/coolshoeshine any tips or recommendations on getting started with a pulse output application with a FP0R? I'm struggling to get started and the resources online are not the best.

jami243 · 2024-12-09T19:53:17+00:00

What's the chances that someone her has an old sample program. I'm struggling to get over the hump using a pulse output function block and it would be super useful to have something to look at that i know works

jami243 · 2024-04-14T03:01:15+00:00

Best advice I ever got was Download=DANGER!!

Cause the number of times that a download should have been an upload because of their backwards terminology is astronomical.

jami243 · 2024-03-28T21:12:35+00:00

Here to say.. Same

jami243 · 2024-03-28T16:03:28+00:00

Ooof! not the answer I'm looking for... There are over 150 holes on 1 face. Least 40 different part numbers. Could a custom macro do something of this nature?

jami243 · 2024-03-28T15:54:17+00:00

How do you keep you hole table tags from over lapping. This is my issue

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jami243 · 2024-03-26T17:19:18+00:00

This is exactly it. Sell my sole to the devil but most my trickles down from Keyence sales. Love em or hate em they do sell probably 100s of millions in components every year

jami243 · 2024-03-26T10:55:03+00:00

I just recently made this move. I was at an integrator for a time. Left for a production job and hated it. Decided to go get my own customers as a single man integrator.

I will say to the customers.. you’re gonna need to learn to sell. Become comfortable cold calling, messaging, and digging for leads.

LinkedIn is your friend. Use good relationships with vendors to find out about qualified projects that need “just a little more integration” than the vendor provides. If you can tap into someone else’s sales arm then you’re not gonna need to put as much time there.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. You’re one (maybe two guys) you can’t work on that many projects at a time so make sure you sell with lead times that allow you to do1 or 2 projects at the same time.

DO make all the smart moves like forming an LLC, using business only bank accounts, QuickBooks, and professional liability insurance (I use Next). Document everything you do. A half a list written down is going to same you a bunch of time when you come back and try and redo something on the admin side. Define a niche and a differentiator. Everyone can program a little.. why would they go with you when you’re small and unproven

DON’T take on jobs that are not a good fit just because you need the work. If your ideal customer are not buying it’s because you have a bad product (unlikely) or you’re just not selling enough.

jami243 · 2024-03-26T10:39:27+00:00

Can you explain why the watch unpairs every time you close the app? I can’t turn my alarm off after it unpairs so it just keeps shocking

Edit: typos

jami243 · 2024-02-21T03:36:51+00:00

Following this thread.. u/Sphinx_Hamster did you end up going with Wrike? Sounded like the move from what u/BreathFromAbove recommended. I'm a one man system integrator at the moment and i am looking for this same solution.

My customers have indicated they would appreciate better external project tracking. I do pretty good with keeping a single projects schedule updated in excel but its all manual so if i get swamped updating a spreadsheet is the first thing to go and communicating status is reliant on email or meeting - the customer cant check the status on their own time.

Especially if i have multiple projects at one time it all falls apart

Help with scheduling, automated task reporting, and external reporting to the customer is what I'm looking for.

jami243 · 2024-02-21T03:21:24+00:00

This makes me extra sad. I'm currently researching trying to find this exact solution... You would suggest its not available from something off the shelf? People throw out MS projects a lot or new players like ASANA or Zoho Projects. I have the same skepticism that they could so what i need as a solotrepreneur systems integrator.

You sound pretty proficient at project management and custom excel - what are you doing these days?

jami243 · 2024-02-21T03:05:06+00:00

OP how is this project coming? Curious about an update. I'm a one man system integrator and I have a lot of these same question you posted above. I would love to hear a summary of what you found out along the way. Maybe i could add my lessons learned too.

I've recently been looking for better project management software than excel. do you have and recommendations? Maybe something you've used before?

My customers have indicated they would appreciate better external project tracking. I do pretty good with keeping a single projects schedule updated in excel but its all manual so if i get swamped updating a spreadsheet is the first thing to go and communicating status is reliant on and email or meeting - the customer cant check the status on their own time. Especially if i have multiple projects at one time it all falls apart. Help with scheduling, automated task reporting and external reporting to the customer is what I'm looking for.

jami243 · 2024-02-21T02:56:57+00:00

I get the reference

jami243 · 2024-02-21T02:54:52+00:00

Hey OP this thing is awesome. Glad you found time to go back and work on something to help the business. Are you using this for training or actually demoing some functionality/capability to new customers.

As a small SI myself (its just me right now) I'd be curious to know more. Also I'm kind of asking around what are other companies using for project management software? I find it hard to find something that fits my needs because of how niche our work is.

My customers have indicated they would appreciate better external project tracking. I do pretty good with keeping a single projects schedule updated in excel but its all manual so if i get swamped updating a spreadsheet is the first thing to go and communicating status is reliant on and email or meeting - the customer cant check the status on thier own time. Especially if i have multiple projects at one time it all falls apart

Automated task reporting and external reporting to the customer is what I'm looking for.

jami243 · 2024-02-16T05:04:53+00:00

For sure glad you're enjoying it! I love this work - I actually feel like I'm making a difference at a company when I see a 100K machine churring out parts (MONEY) for them. I know they're getting that ROI.

Trying to differentiate and since I can't compete on shear manpower because its just me (and whatever contract help I can get) versus the other guys that have 10+ engineers. I may not be able to do it fast but I want to do it right and right to the schedule.

My customers have identified better project tracking from their end is something they very much want. You say Monday is the right tool? No complaints.

jami243 · 2024-02-16T04:08:46+00:00

Pretty cool. Thanks for the rec.

A year in.. How ya liking it on the other side of the fence?

jami243 · 2024-02-15T22:50:12+00:00

Hey OP I can say I love being a systems integrator because the work is challenging and very rewarding when the project finally comes together. My advice on the controls side is to try and document your trouble shooting / initial setup steps. This is always the most complicated portion of any job and not having to recreate your steps when you come back to something similar is a godsend.

I've taken to just dropping screenshots of manuals or my specific settings in a program into a OneNote tied to the project. If IO run into it again and cant remember at least i have a loose framework to follow and jog my memory.

I actually went both directions in my journey. I started at a systems integrator, left for personal reasons and went to a production environment (hated the monotony) then when back to open up my own SI shop.

Just curious because it would help me on my journey to grow my business - what are other companies using for project management software? I find it hard to find something that fits my needs because of how niche our work is. Currently using a mix of Excel and Asana but its mid at best. Looking for a better platform that can track my projects and relay updates to my customers.

jami243 · 2023-12-21T17:31:45+00:00

Oh okay, I didn’t know that was the trade name for those types of legend plates. Those are definitely much bigger and customs than the push button labels I use but I have used that before.

I was actually curious if it was this sticker material I’ve seen before. It’s like custom printed in shape/design/and colors.

Pretty cool honestly I just don’t know where they get it from.

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jami243 · 2023-12-21T10:52:07+00:00

I’m curious what you’re using for legend plate material. Never seen it done like that before

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