Global Specialty Chemicals Manufacturer - ZMDM Case Study

Business-Led Master Data Excellence:
Global Specialty Chemicals Manufacturer

From 30-Day Delays to 2-3 Day Master Data Cycles

Customer Snapshot

Industry Specialty Chemicals Manufacturing
Company Size Global, Multi-Billion Dollar Enterprise
Systems Connected SAP ECC, Microsoft Dynamics
Scope R&D Materials, Material Extensions, Vendor & Customer Onboarding, Cost Centers

The Challenge

This global specialty chemicals manufacturer faced critical master data management challenges that were hampering innovation and operational efficiency:

  • 30-Day Cycle Times: Creating new R&D materials and managing material extensions took 30+ days, causing significant delays in bringing new formulations to market and responding to customer requests
  • Poor Data Quality: Data quality score of 76% led to errors in formulations, procurement issues, and compliance risks in a highly regulated industry
  • IT Bottlenecks: Every master data change required IT intervention, creating bottlenecks in R&D, procurement, and customer onboarding processes across multiple regions
  • Global Complexity: Managing master data processes across 20+ countries with different regional requirements and no standardized workflows
  • Cost Impact: Master data delays and errors were costing an estimated $1.2 million annually in lost opportunities, rework, and operational inefficiencies

The ZMDM Solution

The company implemented ZMDM's business-led master data orchestration platform to revolutionize their approach across global operations:

  • Business Ownership: Empowered R&D, procurement, and supply chain teams to own and manage their master data processes without waiting for IT, accelerating innovation cycles
  • Process Orchestration: Automated workflows with role-based tasks, multi-level approvals, and built-in validations across all regions and business units
  • Real-Time Quality: Implemented business rules and validation checks at the source, ensuring data accuracy before it enters SAP ECC and Microsoft Dynamics
  • Multi-System Integration: Seamless integration with SAP ECC and Microsoft Dynamics with automated data synchronization and error handling
  • Regional Flexibility: Different workflows for different countries and plants while maintaining corporate governance standards and compliance requirements
  • Rapid Implementation: Deployed in just 6 months with immediate business value, compared to typical 18-24 month traditional MDM implementations

The Results

Process Cycle Time
93%
Before: 30+ days
After: 2-3 days
Data Quality Score
98%
Before: 76%
After: 98%
Annual Savings
$1.2M
Through efficiency gains and error reduction
Implementation Time
6 months
From kickoff to full production
Total Cost of Operation
$100K/year
Fully loaded operational cost
ROI Payback
<12 months
Investment recovered in first year

Key Business Outcomes

✓ Accelerated R&D cycles and faster time-to-market for new formulations
✓ Eliminated IT bottlenecks in material creation and vendor onboarding
✓ Reduced master data errors impacting procurement and production
✓ Improved compliance with regional regulations and quality standards
✓ Standardized processes across 20+ countries while maintaining flexibility
✓ Enhanced collaboration between R&D, procurement, IT, and supply chain teams

Implementation Highlights

Scope R&D Materials, Extensions, Vendor/Customer Onboarding, Cost Centers
Timeline 6 months from kickoff to production
Approach Phased rollout across regions and business units
Systems SAP ECC + Microsoft Dynamics integration

"ZMDM fundamentally transformed how we manage master data across our global operations. What used to take 30 days now happens in 2-3 days, and our R&D and procurement teams own the process. The business agility we've gained has been transformative, and we achieved full ROI in less than a year."

— Director of Master Data Management
Global Specialty Chemicals Manufacturer

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