SAP MM KB

Material Master Data Inconsistency is a common issue in SAP MM that can lead to various problems across procurement, inventory, and even production processes. This error typically occurs when critical data fields for a material are missing, incorrect, or not maintained consistently across different organizational levels (e.g., plant, storage location).

Symptoms:

• Error messages when creating Purchase Orders (PO), Goods Receipts (GR), or other material-related transactions (e.g., "Material XXXXX does not exist or is not activated for plant YYYY").
• Incorrect valuation of materials in inventory.
• Problems with material planning (MRP) or availability checks.
• Inability to post goods movements or perform physical inventory.

Root Causes:

• Incomplete Data Maintenance: Material created without all necessary views (e.g., Purchasing, Plant Data/Storage 1, Accounting 1).
• Incorrect Configuration: Material type settings, valuation class, or plant parameters not correctly configured.
• Data Migration Issues: Errors during initial data load from legacy systems.
• User Error: Manual input mistakes or accidental deletion of critical data.

Solution Steps:

1. Identify the Specific Inconsistency:

   The error message usually provides clues. Note down the material number, plant, and the specific transaction you were trying to perform.

   • Use transaction MM03 (Display Material) to check the material master data.
   • Enter the material number and select all relevant views (e.g., Basic Data 1, Purchasing, Plant Data/Storage 1, Accounting 1).
   • Check if the material is extended to the correct plant and storage location.

2. Extend Material Views (if missing):

   If a required view is missing for a specific organizational level, extend it.

   • Use transaction MM01 (Create Material) or MM02 (Change Material).
   • Enter the material number.
   • Select the missing views (e.g., "Plant Data/Storage 1", "Accounting 1") and the relevant organizational levels (plant, storage location, valuation area).
   • Fill in all mandatory fields. Pay close attention to:
     • Purchasing View: Purchasing Group, Order Unit.
     • Plant Data/Storage 1: Storage Conditions, Temperature Conditions, Container Requirements.
     • Accounting 1: Valuation Class (crucial for integration with FI).

3. Verify Configuration Settings:

   Ensure that the material type and valuation class settings are correct.

   • Material Type: Check transaction OMS2 to ensure the material type allows for the necessary views and quantity/value updates.
   • Valuation Class: Verify that the valuation class assigned to the material is correctly linked to the G/L accounts in OBYC (Automatic Account Determination).

4. Check for Deletion Flags/Blocks:

   A material might be flagged for deletion or blocked, preventing its use.

   • In MM02, check the "Basic Data 1" view for cross-plant material status and the "Plant Data/Storage 1" view for plant-specific material status.
   • Remove any blocking indicators if they are causing the issue and are no longer required.

5. Re-test the Transaction:

   After making corrections, re-attempt the transaction that initially caused the error.

Prevention:

• Implement robust material master data governance processes.
• Use templates or standard material types to ensure consistent data creation.
• Provide thorough training to users responsible for material master data maintenance.
• Utilize mass maintenance tools (e.g., MASS transaction) for large-scale updates to ensure consistency.

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