Initial situation
QIAGEN Instruments AG develops and produces laboratory robots for pharmaceutical laboratories and companies. The complex devices require elaborate and parts-intensive processes in order to ensure master data with the help of master data management in a safe, automated and high-quality manner.
However, the previous data entry in the core SAP system was largely done manually from many sources and without special digital support in user guidance or error prevention.
Business analysis
Even the first business analysis samples confirmed the need for centralized data validation. The introduction of master data management can be a possible solution to this challenge.
The investigation of the data creation and use processes confirmed a high level of diversity with many process gaps. In particular, the data collection and maintenance processes for the data provided by suppliers were highly manual.
The data quality, which was considered critical, was a demonstrable result of the data entry process in SAP not being adapted to the task at hand. Weak user guidance with weak plausibility checks make it possible to introduce software quickly. In practice, however, this approach pays off with low user acceptance and critical data quality.
Conversely, well-designed operating concepts allow a high degree of automation while maintaining high data quality. However, master data management goes beyond initial data entry and uses automated lifecycle management to ensure that data sets remain consistent in the long term.
Poor data quality in the core system in SAP is a serious risk from the company's point of view, as information and decisions based on this data can be business-critical and incorrect.
Master data management as a solution approach
The solution approach is a largely automated web & workflow solution for optimizing material master data creation by means of Master Data Management. Data capture is simplified and standardized by algorithmically determined standard values and checked for plausibility according to configurable business rules or enriched with additional information using corresponding data quality routines. Release workflows are supported for particularly sensitive data.
Data quality checks before and after transfer to SAP are supported by integration technologies and reporting tools.
Data management continues to take place in SAP. The approach was designed for Hombrechtikon, but is flexible and can also be used for other areas or companies within the Qiagen Group.
Further references
Some customers for whom we have also designed or implemented data management solutions:
BEKO Technologies, Solina Foundation, MARS, Landis & Gyr, Swisscom, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz
Specific examples are Enterprise Data Model, Market Survey, IRP and many more
