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by Stephanie Neil, MA Editorial Staff   | Abstract: | Master data management has always been intrinsic to data management on the factory floor, unlike how it functions in the enterprise. |
In the enterprise, the concept of master data management is catching on like wildfire in no small part due to Web-based tools and governance strategies that enable manufacturers to reconcile product and customer information. Down at the plant floor, however, where legacy systems house disparate data and the quality of information is a critical component in managing the execution process, MDM has always been around in one way, shape, or form. Manufacturing's phases including design, plan, and execute, and each requires a clear definition of the product being made so that the bill of materials (BOM), recipes, operations, and quality testing can be well managed. The "single version of the truth" rule applies, but it's not so much about having a single repository, but rather defining where the data lies, who owns it, and how it can be exchanged. "MDM is not something you do after the fact," says Claus Abildgren, program manager at Wonderware, a division of Invensys plc. "It is designed in." [Click to continue] |