The struggle for data management in the manufacturing enterprise

Data management is moving to centre stage in Europe's leading manufacturing enterprises. As manufacturers strive to achieve the agility required to meet ever-increasing customer demands, it becomes more important than ever that all functions, from corporate to shop floor, have enterprise-wide access to data. Both production and corporate systems need to exchange up-to-date, real-time information enabling decision makers at all levels to make realistic, 'optimised' decisions. Only accurate, complete and relevant information allows devolution of responsibility to 'lower' levels, speeding response to changes. The goal must be for all shared data to appear as if in a single 'virtual database', with all staff accessing enterprise-wide data from any computer interface.