Implementing Data Governance and a Data Catalog in Manufacturing

Opportunity

A large manufacturing company, in line with their data-centric strategy, identified a need for implementing improved data governance and a data catalog tool in order to facilitate better visibility and accessibility to the company’s data. Although the topic of data governance wasn’t new to the organization, the previous guidelines were outdated and needed updating. A consultant experienced in project management worked with IT leadership to design a roadmap for implementation.

Solution

The data catalog implementation began with a collaborative partnership with IT administration to install and troubleshot technical issues. Once installed, a cross-functional set of pilots tested the software resulting in customizations attuned to the organization’s needs. A thorough training and communication strategy officially launched the product across the organization, supporting awareness and engagement.

After review of existing data governance guidelines, proposed changes were mapped to current strategy. Revisions were completed with input from stakeholders on a data focused committee. Updated guidelines were published to the company’s intranet and stored within the data catalog tool, creating a central resource for all data governance.

Outcome

Pepper Foster successfully supported the client’s goals through a successful software implementation and application of accessible data governance. Engagement over the past 12 months showed total user growth of 500 percent. Each month, returning employees account for 30 percent - 50 percent of users across 6 large business units. Trainings and communications supported engagement through weekly articles, presentations at four collaborative events, five catalog training sessions and development of an online course. Overall, the organization gained visibility to their data landscape, efficiencies in analysts finding the right data, and better understanding of safe and reasonable use of data.  

With a successful local implementation completed, Pepper Foster was offered the opportunity to roll out an integrated global data catalog across a division of the company.