Y2K-ENG

Progressive Report - Y2K (1st Issue) Singer Thailand Public company Limited, located at 321 Siphaya Ro ad, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, is a major retailer of home consumer durable products such as sewing machine, refrigerator, washing machine, television, audio, video, water filter and other home appliances, would like to report the progress prepared for Y2K crisis as the following. Analysis and result's evaluation The company has already assigned EDP Section, cooperating with Board of Directors, to take the responsibility of making analysisand evaluation of Y2K case. Hence EDP Section determines the way to study and examine all company's equipment which could be divided into 2 groups as below :- a) Computer equipment and peripherals b) Others such as fax machine, photo copier, etc. Moreover, the company has consulted with the outside vendors, specializing in Y2K crisis, for any updated information to prevent and find the ways to solve any unexpected problems. The effects of Y2K crisis The expected effects, in case of not being able to solve the case in time, are explained in 3 different aspects as following. 1) The effects towards the computerized and administration systems of the company 1.1) Hardware and peripherals 1.1.1) VAX 4000 Model 300 for hire purchase data 1.1.2) DEC Alpha Server 1000 a for MIS Project development 1.1.3) Compaq Prosignia 300 for LAN Server 1.1.4) Dell PowerEdge XE 133-2 for LAN Server at Sena 1.1.5) PC Model 286, every brand 1.1.6) PC Model 386, every brand 1.1.7) PC Model 486, every brand 1.1.8) PC Pentium, every brand 1.1.9) Network peripheral 1.2) Operating system 1.2.1) VMS/Thai Version 5.5 for VAX 4000 Model 300 1.2.2) Novell Netware 3.12 & 4.10 for LAN control 1.2.3) Window NT Server 4.0 Enterprise for DEC Alpha Server 1000 a control 1.2.4) All versions of DOS for all PCs at Singer shops 1.2.5) Windows 95 for some PCs 1.3) Application software, including developed by EDP Team 1.3.1) VAX COBOL Version 5.0 - developing language used in VAX 4000 Model 300 1.3.2) VAX FMS Version 2.4 - tool used in VAX 4000 Model 300 1.3.3) Microsoft Foxpro (all versions) - developing language used for PC application both standalone and LAN 1.3.4) Microsoft Foxbase - developing language used for shop system application 1.3.5) Power Builder Enterprise Version 5.0 - developing language for MIS Project 1.3.6) Others such as Microsoft Office, Lotus, CU- Writer, etc. 1.4) Database 1.4.1) VAX RMS File - database of VAX 4000 Model 300 1.4.2) DBF File - database of "Foxpro" software 1.4.3) Microsoft SQL Server Version 6.5 - database for MIS project 1.5) Application system 1.5.1) Hire purchase & others on VAX 4000 1.5.2) Shop computerized system at Singer shops 1.5.3) All applications on LAN at CA 1.5.4) All applications on LAN at Sena 1.5.5) All new applications determined in accordance with MIS Project 1.5.6) All applications on PC of each Department/Section 2) The effects towards the company's operation (in case of the related products available for sales of the company are not in compliance with Y2K, such as the wrong receipt date shown on the fax document through the use of the fax machine "Singer") Accordingly the company may get the burden of inventories which could not be sold at that period of time. 3) The effects towards the company's operation from outside factors For example, if any banks which company has dealt with could not be able to correct the system in time, the main banks may not get the fund transfer at that period of time. In other case, if the manufacturer could not make the production arising from the result of Y2K crisis, the company may suffer the opportunity costs,etc. All mentioned effects could be categorized into 2 kinds as following. a) The effects which the company could control - "controllable effects" EDP Section has already determined to solve the problems by priority as the following :- a.1) Hire purchase system As the instalment period is allowed up to 32 months in some company's products, it implies that EDP Staff has to correct the problems at least 32 months in advance before C.E.2000. This ensures that the company's system is now in compliance with Y2K. a.2) Shop computerized system The new shop computerized system has been planned for all shops through the training course. According to the plan, the course is provided to the shop officers by area every month (1 area : 1 month). Each area is consisted of 22 shops approximately. Due to the shop's structure (14 areas) and operation, EDP Section has to take at least 14 months in arranging the courses to the users involved. a.3) Computer equipment and peripherals a.4) All tasks concerning with Accounting and Finance, especially in date format. a.5) Warehouse system a.6) Sales analysis system a.7) Personnel system b) The effects which the company could not control - "uncontrollable effects" b.1) All software packages purchased from outside. b.2) Goods available for sales such as fax machine, video, etc. b.3) Other office equipment such as photo copier, etc. b.4) The computer system of other business firms which the company has dealt with. Methods to solve Y2K crisis The company has already determined the ways to solve Y2K as following. Set up the team consisting of 4 qualified persons (with at least 5 years in working experience) to take the responsibility of Y2K directly as the following. No. Name Duty 1. Mr. Korakot Yingpoonsap (EDP Manager) Leader 2. Mr. Visit Nitvimol Staff 3. Mr. Somsak Klabjai Staff 4. Ms. Varavan Vongspintu Staff Hire the outside with specialization in solving Y2K crisis to ensure the effectiveness of the company's operation when year 2000 arrives as well as follow up the result after then (February 2000). Provide the team with the seminar course to gain more knowledge in solving the problems. Contact related distributors and/or manufacturers directly to get the information concerning solving Y2K problems as well as certificates. Get the information through Internet, especially in software update. In case that current correcting procedures are not successful, alternative plan will be applied instead as following. Type Action Server Related vendor who has currently maintained the equipment will upgrade the version to be used effectively for the time being and then the proper methods will be determined later. Software package Any application software which could not be in compliance with Y2K has to be given up and use the alternative one which is more effective instead such as using Excel instead of Lotus, etc. Application Systems (developed by EDP Staff) While maintenance team are correcting the problems of Y2K, another group of persons is assigned to take the responsibility of the new application system development. Methods to solve the problems of Y2K EDP Section has determined the ways to solve the problems of Y2k crisis as the following. Method to solve computer system and peripheral 1. Define the problems by main system. Server - VAX 4000, DEC Alpha, Compaq Prosignia, Dell Server All existing Personal Computers in the organization 2. Contact concerned vendor and manufacturer directly to get the information about the effects of Y2K towards the organization as well as any certificate to ensure the effectiveness of each hardware/software. 3. In case that the problems of Y2K occur, the ways to solve are mentioned below. Type Action Server If the existing BIOS can be upgraded, let the manufacturer upgrade and issue the certificate. If the existing BIOS cannot be upgraded, the new one should be purchased