What is Material Identification?

What does Material Identification mean?

Material Identification is the process of accurately recognising and classifying materials and spare parts within ERP, CMMS, and MRO systems. It ensures that every item in the catalogue is uniquely defined, preventing duplicate records and confusion in procurement, inventory, and maintenance operations.

Inaccurate or inconsistent identification of materials often leads to duplicate entries in Material Master, unreliable stock reporting, and costly errors in purchasing. Effective material identification requires consistent descriptions, standardised codes, and validated manufacturer and supplier data.

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Key aspects of Material Identification

Unique identification – Assigning distinct numbers or codes for each material.
Standardised descriptions – Applying consistent naming conventions and attributes.
Duplicate detection – Identifying and merging duplicate entries.
Classification – Using systems like UNSPSC, eClass, or ISO for spare parts and materials.
Supplier references – Ensuring accurate manufacturer and vendor data is linked.

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Why Material Identification matters

Material Identification is essential for data quality and operational efficiency in asset-intensive industries. Without it, organisations face:

Duplicate or inconsistent material records.
Procurement inefficiencies and incorrect orders.
Excess stock and higher carrying costs.
Poor maintenance planning due to unreliable spare parts data.

Sharecat Data Services helps organisations achieve accurate Material Identification by cleansing, standardising, and enriching spare parts and material records. By combining technical validation with industry standards, Sharecat ensures that ERP and MRO systems operate with reliable, business-ready data.

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Glossary

What is Material Identification?

What does Material Identification mean?

Key aspects of Material Identification

Why Material Identification matters