Ciba Speciality Chemicals solved their millennium issues using MS4.
After three months of commuting between Ciba's UK headquarters
and their various bases here and overseas, the ten IT specialists
in Ciba's millennium compliance team completed the UK pilot project
in early November 1997. Then they implemented the MS4 programme
internationally within the company.
The team comprised of both external consultants and
internal experts. The MS4 project addressed the challenge of ensuring
that new software was in place long before the millennium. The new
software safeguards Ciba's international Supply Chain Management
system and Business Support Centre structures from being affected
by the 2000 date change-over.
The implementations started in June 1997 within all
the BPCS software sites, around the globe. All data centres report
normal operations following successful installations.
Terry Gorman, IT Director, explained that "Ciba Speciality
Chemicals was spun off as a totally independent $10 billion CHF
company operating in over 38 countries in March 1997. Initial standardisation
had to be focussed on BPCS version 4. However, without remedial
action, these BPCS based Supply Chain and Financial systems would
cease to function as the year 2000 approaches.
"MS4 was selected as a simple and effective solution.
After a very successful pilot, we ... completed the conversion of
over 150 environments before July 1998, using a team of just 8 dedicated
specialists."
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