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32 CHAPTER 2 Introduction to Enterprise Systems

data are relevant only to certain processes. For example, vendor master data
apply to procurement, and customer master data are utilized in fulfi llment.
This chapter will focus exclusively on material master data. We will consider
other master data in the appropriate process chapters.

Material Master
Although materials are relevant to many processes, each process uses the
materials differently. For example, the procurement process buys materials,
the production process makes materials, and the fulfi llment process sells mate-
rials. Each process, therefore, requires data about the material that may or
may not be needed by other processes. For example, the procurement process
requires data concerning who is responsible for purchasing the material and
how much should be ordered. Similarly, the fulfi llment process utilizes data
concerning product availability and shipping conditions.
It should be evident that because the material master is used in numer-
ous processes, it must include a large amount of data. To manage these data,
the material master groups them into different categories or views, each of
which is relevant to one or more processes. Figure 2-8 illustrates the major
views of data in the material master. Basic data, such as material number,
description, and weight, are relevant to almost all processes. The other views
are relevant only to certain processes. For example, purchasing data are rel-
evant to the procurement process and sales data to the fulfi llment process.
The data in each of the views will be explained in detail in the appropriate
process chapters.

Material Types

Another factor that infl uences the type of data or view needed is the type of
material. Materials are categorized into different material types based on the

Figure 2-8: Material master data

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