With Master Data Governance to Automated Processes

On the one hand, automated processes can significantly improve the quality of master data, even in international structures. On the other hand, many other company processes can be automated in the same ways and thus accelerated in high quality.

An MDG implementation does not have to be limited to the possibilities of the ERP system - there are complementary IT solutions that increase efficiency enormously.

Master data governance encompasses all strategic, organizational, methodological and technological activities relating to a company's master data. Its goal is to maximize and secure data quality and cross-system and cross-application data consistency over the long term.

The digitization of processes places high demands on data quality, which begins with timeliness, accuracy and completeness. Only when the data conforms to system-specific rules can it be processed by machine.

The data must be consistent and as unique as possible: Duplicates unnecessarily inflate the database, create additional work, are a potential source of errors, and drive up process costs. The mass of master data alone demands enormous efforts from companies that have to meet these criteria.

In addition to a suitable IT solution, master data governance also integrates company-wide process and organizational structures with clear rules and responsibilities.

Companies can - and must - use it to model processes such as that for the material master plant and define individual release and approval processes.

Then, at the same time, they have an effective method for permanently maintaining the achieved master data quality. The same means and methods can be used to support and automate many other business processes.

Precise text information can be automatically translated and used as purchase order texts, web store information or descriptions for spare parts catalogs.

The generation of serial numbers for industrially manufactured components and products, the guarantee of unambiguous traceability of components, batches and quality information including their documentation or a temporal validity documentation of parts lists are typical requirements of Industry 4.0.

Once defined, processes with an integrated test instance during operation subsequently ensure fast and error-free processes in accordance with applicable standards and rules.

The concept of master data governance seems suitable for eliminating quality deficiencies in master data at a manageable cost. Through permanent monitoring and automatic correction mechanisms, it brings a high level of security to diverse digital processes.

For the realization of an MDG project, it is first recommended to fundamentally clean up and restructure the master data with tools specialized for this purpose, which also implement the subsequent MDG project more efficiently than an ERP system.