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| Year 2000 - Affected Aspects within an Organization | |
| Business Computer Systems | Business applications and computer systems that support the day-to-day operations of the organization. These systems include all business applications supported by the organization'’ IT group enterprise-wide, for instance Product Design, Material Planning, Production Scheduling, Marketing, Sales, Accounting, Purchasing, and Personnel. The organization’s business rules are often embedded in these applications, in many cases date sensitive. Those systems defined as mission critical would need an audit/certification on Year 2000 compliance. |
| Technical Infrastructure | Vendor supplied or custom developed software, hardware, complete systems and equipment related to the technical infrastructure of the organization. Examples include data center hardware and software, database software, disaster recovery facilities, networks, servers and desktop machines, e-mail, satellite, telephone and video, and all non-application software such as MS Office. Compliance may be achieved through natural migration or through repair or targeted replacement. Compliance will often be dependent on the product suppliers, and testing for consistent compliance across products will be an important aspect. |
| End User Computing | Application related software on the desktop – spreadsheets or databases often constructed by the desktop user, departmental systems not maintained by the central IT group, or ‘adhoc’ reporting systems working off copies of production files. In some cases the results of desktop calculations are fed back into the corporate systems, and errors at this level can lead to re-corruption. |
| Suppliers, Agents, Service Providers (Banks, Utilities, etc.) |
Relationships with external organizations which are beyond one’s management scope but which can affect the operation of one’s own organization. |
| Manufacturing,
Warehousing Servicing Equipment |
In often highly automated environments of manufacturing, material storage and distribution, and servicing, many organizations are locked into the technology driving their processes. A failure or error in these areas can interrupt core business, and leave the organization idling. Many operations are not in themselves date dependent, but may be providing date based feeds to other processes, or functioning on machines that are date dependent. Some equipment may be controlled by custom developed software built for the explicit purpose; others may be purchased processes with embedded technology, such as paint booths or test equipment. In large organizations there may be many occurrences of equipment from the same supplier, and coordinated approach to compliance would be required. |
| Environmental Operations in Plants, Offices and other sites |
Every building is subject to some degree of automation/technology, and disruption of these services can lead to loss of core operations. Examples to consider include HVAC, Security and access, elevators and escalators, PBX and Wireless communications, Fire and Alarm systems, externals such as power suppliers, on-site medical facilities and all EPA activity. How these are approached may differ according to the ownership and labor situation in each case. |
| The Organization's Products | In some cases, the product being supplied, either to a final customer or to a further assembly process, may contain microprocessors. In some instances these will have date related functions which need investigation. There are two areas of concern – the status of current and future products and the need to avoid introducing faulty goods, and previous products where the organization may be exposed to warranty or recall action. |
| Dedicated R&D Test Facilities | R&D facilities tend to be centers of technological excellence. Special attention is required in these areas, due to the often complex level of testing in product development, and the significance of errors going undetected. Unidentified but incorrect testing could result in the progression of flawed products into production with potentially enormous exposure. |
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