Agencies accredited to issue Y2K licenses

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)