Executive Summary

Enterprise ERP implementations require more than new software. Reliable planning, procurement, inventory management, and manufacturing all depend on accurate operational data. Without disciplined preparation and governance of master data, organizations risk disrupting day-to-day operations long after system go-live.

As part of a site-wide SAP implementation for a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), I was engaged to lead the preparation and migration of critical supply chain master data. Serving as the engagement lead, I managed a team of consultants responsible for validating and preparing more than 30,000 item and vendor records while coordinating closely with the client's supply chain leadership, IT organization, and suppliers to support a successful ERP implementation.

Beyond preparing data for migration, the engagement provided reliable operational data needed to support planning, purchasing, inventory management, and manufacturing execution. By combining disciplined project leadership with cross-functional collaboration and operational expertise, the work reduced implementation risk while helping position the organization for long-term operational success.

Client Snapshot

The Challenge

As part of a site-wide SAP implementation, the organization needed to migrate thousands of item and vendor records from legacy systems into a new ERP platform. The success of the implementation depended on ensuring operational data was accurate, complete, and standardized before migration, as data quality would directly impact purchasing, inventory management, supplier transactions, and manufacturing operations after go-live.

I was engaged to lead this critical supply chain workstream, providing experienced project leadership and cross-functional coordination to prepare critical operational data for migration while supporting an aggressive implementation timeline.

Key challenges included:

• Migrating more than 30,000 item and vendor records while maintaining data accuracy and integrity.
• Many legacy item and vendor records contained missing or incomplete information, requiring collaboration with suppliers and internal stakeholders to research, validate, and complete critical operational data before migration.
• Standardizing data from legacy systems to ensure consistency and compatibility within SAP.
• Coordinating across supply chain, IT, procurement, and business stakeholders to resolve data issues while maintaining project momentum.
• Building scalable operating processes to support future growth.
• Meeting aggressive implementation milestones while minimizing operational risk and ensuring the organization was prepared for a successful ERP go-live.

Approach

As the engagement lead, I managed a team of consultants responsible for preparing and migrating critical item and vendor data into SAP. Success required more than preparing data for migration. It depended on coordinating people, processes, and information across multiple functional areas to ensure the organization was operationally ready for go-live.

Working closely with the client's supply chain project lead, I collaborated with IT, procurement, suppliers, and business stakeholders to establish a structured approach for validating, standardizing, and preparing operational data while keeping the project aligned with implementation milestones.

Key responsibilities included:

• Led the master data workstream by coordinating project activities, managing a team of consultants, and serving as the primary liaison with client leadership.
• Validated and standardized more than 30,000 item and vendor records to improve data accuracy and consistency prior to migration.
• Partnered with suppliers and internal stakeholders to research and resolve missing or incomplete information, ensuring critical operational data was complete before go-live.
• Developed quality review and validation processes to identify issues early and reduce migration risk.

Results

• Successfully prepared and migrated more than 30,000 item and vendor records to support the site's SAP implementation.
• Improved the completeness, accuracy, and consistency of critical operational data through a structured validation and standardization process.
• Researched and completed thousands of missing item-level data fields through collaboration with suppliers and internal stakeholders, improving the quality of information available within the new ERP.
• Delivered a validated supply chain master data set for use in subsequent phases of the SAP implementation.
• Provided reliable operational data to support purchasing, inventory management, supplier transactions, and manufacturing operations within SAP.

Executive Perspective

Organizations often focus on implementing new systems, expanding capacity, or launching new products. Long-term success, however, depends on having the right operational foundation to support those initiatives. Reliable data, clearly defined processes, and cross-functional alignment enable organizations to execute with confidence and reduce operational risk.

Whether preparing for organizational growth, supporting a major business transformation, or improving day-to-day operations, I help organizations build practical operational foundations that enable sustainable growth, improve execution, and position the business for long-term success.