The group has worked to become 100% compliant by October 15, 1999. The company performed mass computer upgrades and system audits of all critical equipment and notified customer of their efforts. Once the customers learned of the committee, numerous surveys concerning Y2K compliance and ability to provide products flooded into the corporate offices. Sub-committee after sub-committee developed to manage inter-company and external evaluations. Equiptek's main focus was to ensure that computer compliance and customer supply needs were addressed before January 1, 2000.
Importance of Study.
The significance of this study is to determine what the purchasing decisions of medical facilities will have on the medical supply manufacturer, Equiptek. This survey was influenced by the repeated request of medical facilities concerning supply issues and the articles published in medical publications concerning stock piling of products. The objective of Equiptek is to determine where the facility is regarding Y2K, how the facility view the Y2K issue, and what variances in purchasing patterns may occur.
In order for Equiptek to meet the needs of its customers, the company must know what the medical facility is planning regarding operation and purchasing. The results of this study will influence to inventory levels that will be maintained during the last two months of 1999 and the first quarter of 2000. This study will explore not only the variance in purchasing patterns, but will also evaluate the opinions of the facility regarding the impact of Y2K on their organization.
Literature Review.
Y2K. The Year 2000 computer problem is sometimes referred to as Y2K or "the bug-. Regardless of the name most sources use similar definitions to define the problem. According to an excerpt of the "Y2K: Mission Critical - An Executive Briefing for CEO's and Other Health Leaders- (1998) the Year 2000 problem occurred from using a six-digit field for the date in computer programs, with the "19- in the year being a fixed value.