International Society of Automation

The International Society of Automation (ISA) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1945, with a mission to "empower the global automation community through standards and knowledge sharing." ISA aims to create a better world through automation, focusing on industrial automation, safety, security, and cybersecurity.

Founding and Overview

ISA was established to bring together professionals in the automation field, including engineers, technicians, and management, to advance the profession and improve control systems used across various industries and critical infrastructure. ISA serves industries such as chemicals, food and beverage, oil and gas, textiles, discrete manufacturing, utilities like power and water, and wastewater treatment.

Activities and Contributions

Standards Development

ISA develops consensus industry standards that cover areas such as safety, security, batch control, enterprise integration, and more. Thousands of automation professionals worldwide contribute to these global standards.

Professional Certification

ISA offers several certification programs, most notably the Certified Automation Professional (CAP) and the Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST). These certifications are highly regarded in the industry for validating expertise in automation and control systems.

Education and Training

ISA provides standards-based, vendor-neutral training programs through instructor-led, online, and in-plant courses. These educational resources are designed to enhance careers and solve complex technical problems faced by professionals.

Publishing and Knowledge Sharing

ISA publishes peer-reviewed books, white papers, InTech magazine, and the ISA Transactions journal. It hosts conferences, exhibitions, and webinars to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking among its members and the broader automation community.

Cybersecurity Initiatives

ISA has launched the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance (ISAGCA), a collaborative effort to enhance cybersecurity awareness and readiness in manufacturing and critical infrastructure. The Alliance works on standards, certifications, education programs, advocacy efforts, and thought leadership in cybersecurity.

Organizational Structure and Values

• Vision: Create a better world through automation.
• Mission: Empowering the global automation community through standards and knowledge sharing.
• Values: Excellence, integrity, diversity and inclusion, collaboration, and professionalism.

ISA is committed to maintaining industry-leading unbiased content and upholding the highest standards of competence and skill in all its endeavors. Its brand family includes organizations like the ISA Security Compliance Institute.

Membership and Impact

ISA supports over 30,000 worldwide members and hundreds of thousands of customers. Through its extensive network and resources, ISA plays a crucial role in advancing individual careers and the automation profession as a whole.

[1] https://www.isa.org/about-isa [2] https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/ansi-and-international-society-automation-explained [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqqUVMEbzqQ [4] https://www.automation.com/en-us/suppliers/sisp04/isa [5] https://themanufacturinginstitute.org/workers/skills-certifications/isa/