The SAP Material Master Record is a centralized database containing all the information related to materials used in an organization. It serves as a single source of truth for various business processes, including purchasing, sales, production planning, inventory management, and more. Understanding the different views available in the SAP Material Master is crucial for efficient material management and smooth operation of SAP systems.
Introduction to SAP Material Master Record
The SAP Material Master Record is divided into several views, each tailored to specific business functions. These views allow different departments to access and manage the material data relevant to their operations without affecting other areas. This tutorial explores the various views available in the SAP Material Master Record, providing insights into their purpose and key fields.
Basic Data View
The Basic Data View contains general information about a material and is maintained at the client level.
Key Features:
- Client-Level Data: Information is consistent across all company codes and plants.
- Essential Fields:
- Material Description
- Base Unit of Measure
- Material Group
- Gross Weight and Net Weight
- Volume and Dimensions
Purpose:
- Provides fundamental material characteristics.
- Used by all modules that require basic material information.
Table 1: Key Fields in Basic Data View
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Material Description | A brief description of the material |
| Base Unit of Measure | The unit in which the material is managed |
| Material Group | Classification of materials for reporting |
| Gross Weight | Total weight including packaging |
| Net Weight | Weight of the material without packaging |
Classification View
The Classification View allows grouping of materials based on specific characteristics.
Key Features:
- Classes and Characteristics: Assign materials to classes and define their attributes.
- Search Functionality: Enables searching for materials based on characteristic values.
Purpose:
- Facilitates reporting and material management.
- Useful for grouping similar materials for analysis.
Sales Views
The Sales Views are critical for the Sales and Distribution (SD) module.
Included Views:
- Sales: Sales Organization 1
- Sales: Sales Organization 2
- Sales: General/Plant
- Foreign Trade Export
- Sales Text
Key Fields:
- Sales Unit
- Item Category Group
- Tax Classification
- Delivering Plant
Purpose:
- Stores data required for sales order processing.
- Determines how the material behaves in sales processes.
Table 2: Key Fields in Sales Views
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Sales Unit | Unit of measure in sales documents |
| Item Category Group | Controls item behavior in sales documents |
| Tax Classification | Tax information for the material |
| Delivering Plant | Default plant from which material is delivered |
Purchasing Views
The Purchasing Views contain data relevant to procuring materials externally.
Included Views:
- Purchasing
- Foreign Trade Import
- Purchase Order Text
Key Fields:
- Purchasing Group
- Order Unit
- Overdelivery/Underdelivery Tolerances
- Goods Receipt Processing Time
Purpose:
- Ensures efficient procurement processes.
- Provides necessary information to the purchasing department.
MRP (Material Requirements Planning) Views
The MRP Views are essential for planning and production scheduling.
Overview:
- MRP1 View: General Data, MRP Procedure, Lot Size Data
- MRP2 View: Procurement, Scheduling, Net Requirements Calculation
- MRP3 View: Forecast Requirements, Planning
- MRP4 View: BOM Explosion, Dependent Requirements
MRP1 View
Key Sections:
- General Data: Base Unit of Measure, MRP Group
- MRP Procedure: MRP Type, Reorder Point
- Lot Size Data: Lot Size Procedure, Minimum/Maximum Lot Size
Important Fields:
- MRP Type: Determines the planning method (e.g., PD for standard MRP).
- Lot Size: Defines how procurement quantities are calculated.
Table 3: Common MRP Types
| MRP Type | Description |
|---|---|
| PD | Standard MRP |
| VB | Manual Reorder Point Planning |
| V1 | Automatic Reorder Point Planning |
| VV | Forecast-Based Planning |
MRP2 View
Key Sections:
- Procurement: Procurement Type, Special Procurement
- Scheduling: In-house Production Time, Planned Delivery Time
- Net Requirements Calculation: Safety Stock, Minimum Safety Stock
Important Fields:
- Procurement Type: Indicates if the material is produced in-house or procured externally.
- In-house Production Time: Time required to produce the material internally.
- Planned Delivery Time: Lead time for external procurement.
Table 4: Procurement Types
| Procurement Type | Description |
|---|---|
| E | In-house production |
| F | External procurement |
| X | Both in-house and external procurement allowed |
MRP3 View
Key Sections:
- Forecast Requirements: Strategy Group, Consumption Mode
- Planning: Availability Check
- Plant-Specific Configuration
Important Fields:
- Strategy Group: Determines planning strategies (e.g., Make-to-Stock).
- Consumption Mode: Defines how forecasts are consumed by demands.
- Availability Check: Controls how the system checks material availability.
MRP4 View
Key Sections:
- BOM Explosion/Dependent Requirements
- Discontinued Parts
- Repetitive Manufacturing/Assembly
Important Fields:
- Individual/Collective Requirements: Controls grouping of dependent requirements.
- Production Version: Specifies the valid BOM and routing for production.
General Plant Data/Storage Views
These views manage how materials are stored and handled within plants.
Key Features:
- Storage Conditions
- Shelf Life Data
- Hazardous Material Information
Purpose:
- Ensures proper storage and handling of materials.
- Important for inventory management and compliance.
Quality Management View
The Quality Management View is vital for maintaining material quality standards.
Key Features:
- Inspection Types: Determines when and how inspections are conducted.
- Quality Control Indicators: Specifies quality checks and procedures.
Purpose:
- Ensures materials meet required quality specifications.
- Integrates quality checks into procurement and production processes.
Accounting Views
The Accounting Views hold financial information about materials.
Included Views:
- Accounting 1
- Accounting 2
Key Fields:
- Valuation Class: Links material to G/L accounts.
- Price Control: Determines if the material uses standard or moving average price.
- Standard Price: The fixed price for valuation.
Purpose:
- Essential for financial reporting.
- Controls how material movements impact accounting.
Table 5: Price Control Options
| Price Control | Description |
|---|---|
| S | Standard Price (fixed) |
| V | Moving Average Price (variable) |
Costing Views
The Costing Views are used for internal cost calculations.
Key Features:
- Costing Lot Size: Quantity used for cost estimation.
- Planned Price: Future price for budgeting purposes.
Purpose:
- Helps in determining the cost of producing or procuring materials.
- Useful for budgeting and profitability analysis.
Work Scheduling View
The Work Scheduling View contains production-relevant information.
Key Features:
- Production Supervisor: Person responsible for production.
- Production Scheduling Profile: Controls order processing parameters.
- Batch Management: Indicates if the material is managed in batches.
- Serial Number Profile: Defines serialization requirements.
Important Fields:
- Production Version: Links to specific BOM and routing.
- Batch Entry: Controls how batches are assigned in orders.
- Over/Underdelivery Tolerances: Specifies acceptable quantity variances.
Table 6: Batch Management Options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Batch Managed at Client | Material is batch managed across all plants |
| Batch Managed at Plant | Material is batch managed at specific plants |
Conclusion
Understanding the different views available in the SAP Material Master Record is essential for efficient material management. Each view serves a specific purpose, catering to the needs of various departments within an organization. By properly maintaining these views, companies can ensure:
- Efficient Operations: Streamlining processes across departments.
- Data Integrity: Consistent and accurate information.
- Regulatory Compliance: Adherence to quality and financial standards.
- Informed Decision-Making: Reliable data for planning and analysis.
Additional Tips for Managing Material Master Views
- Regular Updates: Keep the material master data current to reflect changes.
- Access Control: Limit editing rights to authorized personnel to prevent unauthorized changes.
- Training: Ensure that staff understand the importance and impact of each view.
- Validation Rules: Implement checks to prevent incorrect data entry.
By familiarizing yourself with the different views and their functionalities, you can leverage the full potential of the SAP Material Master Record, leading to improved productivity and operational efficiency.