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Technology Stocks : Year 2000 (Y2K) Embedded Systems & Infrastructure Problem -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Mansfield who wrote (256)	3/21/1998 5:29:00 PM
From: RH	Respond to of 618

Air Canada Employee Update "News for us HORIZONS March 1, 1998, No 850 Published every month for the employees of Air Canada and their families. The Clock Is Ticking What is the Year 2000 problem? The challenge results form the fact that most information systems around the world use two digits instead of four to identify a given year. For example, January 1, 2000 is typically recorded as 01/01/00. The issue is that many systems will interpret '00' as the year 1900 or reject the transaction, and that could cause serious problems. In recent months, the 'Year 2000 challenge' has made news headlines around the world. While many people think the issue is a 'computer bug', the reality is far more significant. When you consider that every area of a business relies in some way on information systems, you begin to see the scope of the challenge. Operations, securities and communications are just a few of the areas that could grind to a halt if critical systems fail. No industry is exempt from the challenge and for the airline industry, the most common question being asked is: "Will you be able to fly on January 1, 2000?" Fortunately, Air Canada recognized the need to address the Year 2000 challenge and began preparation plans in 1996. That proactive approach is paying off. In a recent survey conducted by Statistics Canada, our company ranked among the top nine percent of Canadian businesses in terms of preparatory activities. "We are addressing both the information technology and the business challenges, to ensure that the critical areas of our business will be operational through the millenium change," explained Jean-Paul Bourgeos, Director, Enterprise Systems. "I have recently taken a lead role in this project, and am delighted to be working with a very dedicated team of people who are sharply focused on ensuring Air Canada is able to operate in the Year 2000." Every branch in the company has become involved in the preparation process which is divided into two areas of focus. The Information Technology sector is focussing on testing, analyzing and converting critical systems which are vital to Air Canada's operation. "We have more than one hundred information technology specialists dedicated to providing technical and business solutions to ensure the airline's computer systems are available and error free," said Janice Robinson, Project Director, Year 2000. "We are right on schedule and have completed 38 per cent of our application conversion and testing." The Business Compliance sector looks after ensuring that Air Canada's suppliers, service providers and partners will be able to support Air Canada's needs into the next millennium. According to Sam Ghilarducci, Business Compliance Manager, "We are working in cooperation with industry partners and associations to examine critical areas such as airports and air traffic control. And we are working closely with each branch of our airline to assess its readiness and help them prepare for the millenium change." Over the next few months, employees will see practical activities as teams conduct inventories of systems, suppliers, and services which must be checked for Year 2000 readiness. Airport site visits of our facilities have already been conducted in most of Air Canada's stations in North America. By the end of March, international Air Canada airports will have been assessed. "Using detailed checklists, our teams review all functional areas, focusing on those areas that are necessary to the ongoing operation of our airline." Explained Ghilarducci. "For example, in airports we examine areas such as ground support, security systems, baggage handling, ticket counters and lounges; for the Tech Ops we examine systems and tools at the shop-floor level." So, as the clock ticks toward the Year 2000, Air Canada continues its extensive preparations to ensure the airline is ready to defy the new millenium. DESTINATION 2000 AIR CANADA"

To: John Mansfield who wrote (256)	3/22/1998 6:26:00 AM
From: John Mansfield	Respond to of 618

Again, embedded Y2K / electric utilities mentioned in a PC oriented web site Of course, a Y2K-ready PC will be beside the point if there's no electricity. One analyst claims that of 9,000 electric utilities and 108 nuclear plants, not one is fully Y2K compliant. Have a nice day. zdnet.com

To: John Mansfield who wrote (256)	3/22/1998 6:57:00 AM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 618

Electric Utility Website EUY2K: Some highlights Transmission and Distribution `As discussed elsewhere on this website, embedded controls exist in every facet of electric utility operation. This includes transmission and distribution. PLC's and embedded date sensitive controls exist in transformers, protective relaying, and breaker control. Date sensitive computer systems are used for forecasting electrical load demand on a given day, hour, and minute basis. Date sensitive systems are used for bidding purposes in wheeling and power pools. These examples all represent links in the ability to distribute power. Again, a break in any of the links represents potential loss of ability to deliver power, and as illustrated in the example above, even the ability to generate power. The following is a Y2K specific example, discovered during Y2K inventory and analysis at Hawaiian Electric Company (HECo): In 1996, HECo's Y2K project team identified significant problems with it's energy management system (EMS). EMS is the 'brains' of the power distribution system at all electric companies. This system is used to remotely control transmission system breakers, coordinate power generation schedules, compensate for large transmission line breaks, and provide protection against voltage, current and frequency transients. Without going into a lot of technical detail, HECo and their EMS system vendor determined that EMS would crash on the date rollover to 01/01/2000. This would have, in turn, resulted in HECo's transmission network crashing, and by default, a major power outage and loss of all generating capacity. If you want a detailed technical description of HECo's findings and the Year 2000 fix that they put in place, I've put details directly from HECo in a downloadable Word 6.0 format or you can read the online HTML version.' http:www.euy2k.com/tnd.htm Conference: Electric Power Research Institute Embedded Systems Workshop for the T&D Area When: May 6 - 7 1998 Where: Dallas, Texas Registration Fee: Program membership req'd For more information: Joe Weiss, (650)855-2751 Y2K Embedded Systems Workshop focused on the Transmission and Distribution vertical. Doubletree Lincoln Centre,Dallas, Texas. Agenda includes many breakout sessions on various areas of interest to system operations support. euy2k.com Y2K Chat Group A Year 2000 online Chat Group has been kicked off by Rich Gearity. This is a real-time, interactive chat room devoted to discussing varied Y2K topics. Scheduled discussions take place each evening from 8PM to 10PM EST, but the chat room is opened 24 hours a day. Stop by! You never know who you're going to catch in the room - many Y2K heavyweights stop by nightly - and you're guarenteed to learn something new! I look forward to chatting with you on-line! euy2k.com QUOTABLE QUOTES FROM THE ELECTRIC INDUSTRY <snip> "...Virtually everything from supply, generation, and distribution is controlled by hardware and software...there will be power disruptions if things are not fixed..." - David Mann, President of Nova Scotia Power (ATV-TV, Halifax, NS, interview, 8 Dec 1997) "Any one prepared to give me a guarantee that my DCS wont experience a date problem?? (I can't even get the manufacturer to give me this). Anyone prepared to run a Power Station when the DCS is throwing alarms up at you that indicates its getting no reading or a peculiar reading either from a device it is monitoring or one of its front end processors ??" - John Catteral, Western Power (Au) Y2K Program Manager (open letter to Peter DeJager's Year 2000 discussion list, 6 Nov 1997) euy2k.com Here's some technical areas and plant systems that a southwestern U.S. power company is reviewing at one of their coal fired facilities (provided courtesy of a company insider): Environmental (emissions) monitoring - Continuous Emissions Monitoring system Conveyor control systems (ash, coal, limestone) - General Electric Transmission / rectifier units (coal dust precipitator) - Asea-Brown Boveri Boiler and turbine control (plant control room) - Foxboro Controls Smart valves and other controls - Fisher - Rosemount Onsite transmission switchyard <snip> The single most important element of ensuring that fossil plants stay online is ensuring that the supply lines for fuel delivery remain intact. euy2k.com CONTINGENCY PLANNING At this late stage in the game, it's safe to say that the chances are slim that any private industry or government sector will successfully complete a total Y2k remediation program. Those who have been working on it for quite some time have a shot at completing the most mission-critical systems, but any entity that got off to a late start on its Y2k program can expect problems down the road. Given the delayed recognition of impact from embedded systems exposures, and the lack of resources and tools to identify and remediate such exposures, the probability of Y2k impact on manufacturing and industrial processes is exponentially higher. So, based on the assumption that there's not much of a chance of completing this important Y2k task, it's time to think about how to maintain basic industrial processes (and services), including electricity generation and distribution, post-01 January, 2000. The theme of the January, 1998 Washington D.C. Y2K interest group (WDCY2K) was `Contingency Planning'. Somewhere on the order of 300 people (standing room only) listened as speaker after speaker hammered the message that government and private industry must start thinking now about planning for system recoveries in the aftermath of Y2k. Most telling was a request by Dr. Joe Clema of System Resources Company. Dr. Clema asked the audience of Y2k professionals: "Is anyone confident that your mission critical systems will be fixed and tested on time?" Not one hand out of 300 was raised. <snip> euy2k.com General Industry Status as of 11/21/1997 (The results of the first EUY2K survey) Current program phase: Awareness / Inventory: 14% Risk Assessment / Prioritization: 38% Remediation / Testing (at least one system): 31% Don't know (this is scary): 17% euy2k.com