Agencies accredited to issue Y2K licenses

JAKARTA (JP): Two local certification agencies were authorized on Thursday by the National Committee of Accreditation (KAN) to issue certificates for companies' readiness in dealing with the millennium bug.

Sucofindo International Certification Services and Bandung- based Balai Besar Bahan dan Barang Teknik Quality Standard Certification (B4T QSC) surveying agency are now qualified to thoroughly review or to verify managerial methods and implementation systems used by companies in coping with Y2K computer system problems.

The Year 2000 problem arose because many older computers and their software allocated only two digits for the year in dates.

Without repairs or replacements, some computers will read 2000 as 1900, or just shut down. There are possibilities that systems could delete date and disrupt everything from telephones to heart pacemakers to aircraft.

World-wide computerization of airport facilities raises the possibility that air traffic control and airline ground operations could be disrupted by the problem.

Director of Sucofindo ICS Didie B. Tedjosumirat said that even before its accreditation, the agency had received 10 applications for the Ready Year 2 Kilo (Y2K) certifications from airline, construction, telecommunications and insurance companies.

"Many companies have declared themselves ready to face the millennium bug. But their customers still insist on asking for certification of their compliance by an independent certification agency," he said after the accreditation ceremony. (01)