A system integrator´s view of the directives

The System Integrator (or SI) is caught in the middle of many of the issues associated with control systems engineering and the Directives. On the one side is the end-user who is (quite justifiably!) expecting his final system to comply with all relevant Directives, whilst on the other side the component suppliers will only provide compliance at the individual product level, or in some cases not at all. The SI is therefore faced with the challenging task of selecting and applying appropriate components in order that the system not only meets the original goals of specification, budget and timescale, but now also demonstrates conformance with Directives that in many cases make little or no allowance for the role of the SI in constructing the final product or installation. This is not to say that the Directives are a bad thing. In many cases they are now beginning to serve at least one of their intended purposes that of improving the overall levels of health and safety in the working environment. Furthermore, some of the better European Standards emerging from this process are being widely accepted and their adoption by component suppliers, SIs, specifiers and end-users alike will eventually lead to a more standardised approach to the engineering process, and even to reduced costs over a longer time period