Knowledge
How to Improve Product Data Quality Systematically
From data chaos to reliable information
"We have the data, we just don't trust it." This sentence reveals a problem many manufacturers know too well. Data exists, but it's incomplete, outdated, or inconsistent. How do you systematically improve data quality without starting from scratch?
Why Data Quality Suffers
Poor data quality rarely has a single cause. It accumulates: manual entry errors, missing validation, outdated processes, system migrations that lost information. The result is data that technically exists but can't be relied upon for decisions.
Dimensions of Data Quality
Completeness
Are all required fields filled? Missing data creates downstream problems in processes and reports.
Accuracy
Does the data reflect reality? Outdated specifications or wrong values lead to costly mistakes.
Consistency
Is the same information identical across systems? Discrepancies create confusion and mistrust.
Timeliness
Is data current when it's needed? Stale data leads to decisions based on old information.
Accessibility
Can people who need the data find and use it? Hidden data is as bad as missing data.
A Practical Improvement Approach
Don't try to fix everything at once. Prioritize data that matters most: data used for compliance, customer-facing data, data that drives critical processes. Fix those first, then expand systematically.
Concrete Steps You Can Take
- ✓Define quality rules for critical data fields
- ✓Implement validation at the point of entry
- ✓Automate quality checks with regular reports
- ✓Assign clear ownership for data domains
- ✓Create feedback loops when quality issues surface
Technology's Role
The right tools can automate validation, flag inconsistencies, and maintain audit trails of changes. AI can even suggest corrections based on patterns. But technology alone won't fix cultural issues – people need to care about data quality for improvements to stick.
Struggling with Data Quality?
Let's identify where data quality issues hurt most and how to address them pragmatically.
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