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Send to KindlePackagers beware: few controls guarantees
"We have a unique problem because we also manufacture for a number of companies under private-label arrangements so another name is on the product not ours. For these it's virtually impossible for us to know where these products are" being used.
Another maker of PC-based controls saw the Web site providing two-way communication. His company's Web site contains a questionnaire for inquiries about documentation. "Our site registers the individual or company when it provides documentation so we know who has received it."
Some test programs
Relatively few of the controls makers contacted for this survey indicated they had available either a free testing program or product upgrades. One well-established maker of PC hardware was candid about its system. "We have a program we can ship to customers that will help them test our components. We refer to it in our Y2K documentation" said the company's representative.
"After all we have some products up to 15 years old that were designed long before anyone thought of Y2K. These will need to be evaluated and probably upgraded."
A manufacturer of drives and motion controllers has a similar procedure said the spokesman. "Our products with visual displays occasionally have been a problem but we have patches available. Our Web site is set up to provide information and training is available for making upgrades. Costs are also included. Some solutions or upgrades can be downloaded free from the Web site."
Some also said the controls will perform as expected even though the date on the display will be wrong. "A critical issue for customers is to understand that our control will work fine but it will display double-zero digits. The controller will function fine because it understands that represents the year 2000." But programming should be checked carefully reported this participant from a large maker of controls and sensors.
A maker of drives and controllers echoed that viewpoint. "It's really a matter of educating the customer to recognize a different display of the date code. There's no need to replace it--just to understand the display of the code might be different" from what they may expect.
Customer concern varies
When asked about the degree of customer concern about Y2K the answers were inexplicably varied.
After whimsically explaining that his company's products "are as compliant as staplers" one maker of motion controllers said his company has seen major interest. "The concern has been huge. Mainly we've heard from the OEMs [packaging machinery builders] but from some end-users as well. We're getting a lot of hits on our Web site and we've been getting lots of requests for documentation."
A manufacturer of machine vision systems also recognizes the issue's interest. "Our customers are very concerned. We have a lot of Y2K requests and these customers want written documentation that our products are compliant. Since some products are sold through distributors we're also getting documentation requests via our distributors.
"The other trend we're seeing" the vision system spokesperson added "is that a number of third-party consulting groups are now asking for the documentation for their end-user clients."
Others reported low levels of customer concern over Y2K. "Most customers I've dealt with are relatively unconcerned" said the representative of a maker of motion controllers. "They tell us they're very confident." That sentiment was reinforced by a Japanese maker of controls and sensors. "By and large our customers aren't overly concerned though some are very concerned."
A Japanese maker of drives has experienced a lot of requests for documentation but its spokesman believes it's mostly to have the necessary paperwork. "Our customers recognize there are no date clocks in our controls but they seem to want to get their records straight. We've probably sent out 600 letters of compliance" he said.
He also understands that some banks "are requiring that their packaging machinery customers have compliance letters on file as a condition for continuing loans or credit lines."
It's obvious this spokesman regards packaging machinery makers as his company's prime customers and others probably do as well.
Yet other comments about "customers" seem to have been directed more toward end-users. So when asked about "customer concern" it's possible that survey participants were describing two different groups. However regardless of group Y2K has been and is still being taken very seriously by these controls makers. And the survey strongly indicates that remedial information is available to all--especially those with Internet access.
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