pfm medical AG - Keeping Master Data Healthy in SAP ERP with it.mds

pfm medical is an internationally operating, medium-sized family company based in Germany, offering solutions in the field of healthcare, such as operating theaters, therapy management, cardiovascular treatments, surgical implants, and histotechnology.

For more than 45 years pfm medical has successfully developed, manufactured and distributed quality products, while simultaneously offering reliable services.

pfm medical AG’s around 550 employees generated annual sales of about EUR 104.8 million in 2017.

About the Project

Exceptional Product Quality Calls for Robust Master Data

For more than 40 years, Cologne-based company pfm medical and its 550 employees have been the embodiment of quality “Made in Germany.” pfm medical’s range of products includes medical areas of application such as operating theaters, therapy management, cardiovascular treatments, surgical implants, and histotechnology. The company offers more than 3,100 products and operates in more than 100 markets worldwide from its 12 locations in 10 countries.

As an international business with an extensive product range, pfm medical needs structured master data management. When it came to setting up a central master data system for managing rules, processes, interdependencies, and responsibilities, the company chose it.mds (it.master data simplified), the intuitive solution from NTT DATA Business Solutions.

Centralized Organization and Localized Maintenance of Master Data

Now that it.mds has been introduced, master data at pfm medical is organized worldwide with the aid of one central solution. At the same time, the master data can continue to be maintained locally at the various sites. This was achieved in the course of the project via simultaneous roll-outs at all locations. Thanks to a dedicated project team, implementation took place in an almost seamless go-live process.

Distinct Added Value Thanks to Simplification and Harmonization

Using it.mds has simplified and standardized the processes of creating and maintaining master data across all pfm medical locations. Consistent business processes and rules have been defined in the NTT DATA Business Solutions product it.mds for this purpose. These are applied any time master data is created, edited, or expanded. The central solution specifies which fields need to be updated, which business processes are relevant, which responsibilities exist, and which local data is maintained for particular organizational units in SAP ERP.

This produces obvious added value for pfm medical in the form of the ability to compare its global master data in terms of content and quality. Harmonization means that data fields and classification can be taken care of automatically. In addition, the master data already in place in SAP has been adjusted with it.mds to ensure that it is at a consistent level of quality.

Training for Key Users Enables Adjustments on Initiative

Like any it.mds product, this one was used as on-the-job training. This meant that at a very early stage, key users were made able to configure the it.mds solution by themselves. It is possible to edit and add rules, interdependencies, workflows, and entire business processes without any development skills. This means that with it.mds, pfm medical will be able to adapt its master data management to suit future challenges. By keeping its master data healthy, the company will be able to continue offering its customers the benefits of a strong partnership.