If your reading this article you are probably involved with your companies Embedded Systems (ES) Y2K project in some way. As a result, I’ll skip all of the high level overview of the problem and concentrate on what I consider to be the real issues the ES and Management community need to discuss. However, if you want to read a high level overview of the Y2K problem put a bookmark on this page and then follow this link: http://millennia-bcs.com/sections/resource/prepare.html.

The typical company involved with manufacturing or processing as a core business activity probably utilize ES based safety and control systems. This typical company’s ES Y2K project and problem is potentially (and probably) the company’s largest exposure to the Y2K problem.

A Y2K related ES failure could mean the following to a company:

• Hazard to personnel
• Hazard to the environment
• Potential for a business interruption
• Potential to be subject to lawsuits from investors, suppliers, customers, employees, environmental organizations, and governmental agencies.

I’ll expand on each of the preceding themes :

An ES that is used for a safety system could fail in a unknown state resulting in a loss of safety shutdowns. An ES based control system may fail resulting in a loss of process or manufacturing control. Obviously, a simultaneous failure of both safety and control could lead to a disastrous consequence. Especially watch for facilities that have employed safety and control systems that utilize identical ES technology. Fortunately, most ES professionals have designed safety and control systems that fail in a known safe state. In fact, some process industries safety systems employ manual safety devices that operate independent of the primary safety system providing a secondary safety functionally. Consider that a Y2K ES failure may cause the ES to fail in a unknown state instead of the default safe failure state. Does your ES safety system have these manual safety devices?

As described above an ES that is used for a safety system could fail in a unknown state resulting in a loss of safety shutdowns that could result in a release or spill. All releases or spills have the possibility of escalating into some thing potentially more serious such as a fire or explosion leading to an even larger release or spill. One thing that the ES professional needs to keep in mind is the potential for simultaneous failures of ES. It is possible that the base control system, base safety system, fire detection system, infrastructure(such as electricity, water, etc), and communications systems could fail in any combination leading to a disaster.

Do your contingency plans consider the possibility of simultaneous ES failures?

Loss of a key facility due to a manufacturing or process safety or control system ES Y2K related failure could lead to a facility shutdown. Another thing to consider is do you depend on key suppliers that rely on their ES to provide you with services or raw materials key to your business operation? Do you also depend on key customers that rely on their ES to take your product?

Is your business model asynchronous or synchronous? By asynchronous, I mean many parallel business processes not dependent upon any one process for operation? By synchronous, I mean many serial business processes highly dependent on each process for operation? Business models that are highly synchronous are at higher risk. Probability of at least some Y2K ES failures in a business is high even if the business has a quality ES Y2K project in place.

Are you talking to key suppliers and customers about their ES projects? If your business is highly synchronous do you have contingency plans to work around a failed business process?

Any significant ES Y2K incident could lead to a lawsuit from investors , suppliers, customers, employees, environmental organizations, and governmental agencies. A very serious incident could spark lawsuits for all of the above entities. Are you engaging your corporate legal staff or legal resources in your ES Y2K project?

In summary, your company’s ES Y2K project may be crucial to the survival of your business. Make sure ES professionals assigned to your project are give adequate resources and management support in order for them to successfully execute the project which should reduce your companies risk to an manageable level.