Unisys Corporation is providing a Year 2000 solution for the majority of the applications systems of Abbey National, one of the leading banks in the United Kingdom. The Abbey National/Unisys project began in March 1997 and centers around a software factory built and run by Unisys in Milton Keynes, UK. Renovation of affected software is on target for completion by the end of 1998 at an estimated cost in excess of oe30 million [$US 49 million]. This will ensure that the updated systems run for a full year before the date change.
The Abbey National systems being addressed by Unisys comprise 14 million lines of code written in 16 different languages. The flow of code through the factory for inventory, analysis, renovation and full testing is currently at its peak, requiring 330 staff. This is in addition to Abbey National staff who supply code to the factory. The Unisys/Abbey National software factory maximizes efficiency by utilizing a highly automated production line, with specialist work cells at each stage of the Year 2000 compliance process.
Mac Millington, Information Technology Director at Abbey National said, "We chose to work with Unisys because of their technical expertise and knowledge of our systems, but more importantly because of their track record in large scale project management. The close working relationship we have developed with Unisys has enabled us to focus our resources on the business at hand; looking after our customers and developing the future products and services that they require."
"The Unisys software factory approach is proving itself to be the most time- and cost- efficient means of solving the millennium problem," commented Tony Harrington, marketing director for Unisys UK financial sector practice. "With Abbey National we have a purpose-built facility catering precisely to their needs. The sheer level of sophisticated testing that we provide has been, and will continue to be, vitally important in the success of the project. Abbey National is safe in the knowledge that our rigorous testing will help ensure business continuity come 1 January 2000."
The Unisys Migration 2000 factories are the cornerstone of Unisys Year 2000 solutions. These centralized environments, pioneered by Unisys, provide an efficient migration solution through an industrial style specialization of function. Consequently Unisys can provide employees with thorough training in particular aspects of code analysis and renovation, utilizing its own tools as well as those from third parties. In addition, Unisys has developed a portfolio of pre-designed Year 2000 remedies for each programming language, enabling an even greater throughput of code and increased productivity of the workforce.
Editors Note
About Unisys
Unisys is an information technology solutions provider that has a portfolio of information services, technologies and third-party alliances needed to help clients capitalize on their information asset to enhance their competitiveness and responsiveness to customers. Unisys expertise is founded on the strengths of three global businesses: Information Services, providing consulting, application solutions, systems integration and outsourcing; Computer Systems, providing industry-leading technologies; and Global Customer Services, delivering comprehensive services and products supporting distributed computing environments. Access the Unisys home page on the World Wide Web -- http://www.unisys.com -- for further information.
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