Anatomy of SAP Material Master

Table of Contents

In SAP, the Material Master is the king of all master data for SAP solutions. It is the central master data object that connects all the end-to-end processes, including quote-to-cash, source-to-pay, plan-to-produce, logistics, plant maintenance, and quality management. The simplest way to understand SAP Material Material is to examine it using the concept of views, as shown below.

SAP Material Master Views

Additional Material master data elements are shown below.

Within SAP, various aspects of the material are organized in tabs, as shown below

In addition to the above information from a business process point of view, Material Master related information also includes the following.

Basic Data

The Basic Data section of the SAP Material Master contains key attributes that provide fundamental information about a material. These attributes include:

Material Number: A unique identifier assigned to the material within the SAP system.
Material Type: Specifies the category or type of material, such as finished product, raw material, spare part, packaging material, etc.
Description: A brief textual description of the material.
Base Unit of Measure: The standard unit of measure in which the material is handled, stocked, and transacted.
Material Group: A grouping classification that helps categorize materials based on common characteristics or attributes.
Weight: The weight of the material, often specified in the base unit of measure.
Volume: The volume of the material, usually measured in the base unit of measure.
Dimensions: The dimensions of the material, such as length, width, and height, if applicable.
Gross Weight: The total weight of the material, including packaging and any other associated items.
Net Weight: The weight of the material itself, excluding any additional items or packaging.
Size/Dimensions: Specific measurements or dimensions related to the material, if applicable.
Product Hierarchy: A hierarchical classification that organizes materials into a structured product hierarchy for better categorization and reporting.

Sales Data

The Sales Data section of the SAP Material Master contains key attributes that are relevant to the sales and distribution processes of a material. These attributes include:

Sales Organization: The sales organization responsible for selling the material.
Distribution Channel: The channel through which the material is distributed to customers, such as wholesale, retail, or direct sales.
Division: A division within the company that represents a specific product line or market segment.
Item Category Group: Determines the behavior of the material in the sales process, such as whether it is a finished product, spare part, or service.
Pricing Group: Assigns the material to a specific group for pricing purposes, which can help in determining the pricing conditions and calculations.
Tax Classification: The tax classification code assigned to the material for tax-related calculations.
Minimum Order Quantity: The minimum quantity that can be ordered for the material.
Delivery Group: Specifies the delivery group to which the material belongs, helping to define delivery-related parameters.
Availability Check: Determines how the system checks material availability during the sales order process, such as checking against current stock or future production.
Transportation Group: Assigns the material to a transportation group, which helps in determining transportation-related parameters, such as shipping conditions and lead times.
Loading Group: Specifies the loading group to which the material belongs, which helps in defining loading-related parameters during shipping.
Bill of Material Group: If the material is used in a bill of materials, this attribute assigns it to a specific group for better management and analysis.

Purchasing

The Purchasing Data section of the SAP Material Master contains key attributes that are relevant to the procurement and purchasing processes of a material. These attributes include:

Purchasing Organization: The purchasing organization responsible for procuring the material.
Purchasing Group: The group within the purchasing organization is responsible for handling procurement activities related to the material.
Order Unit: The unit of measure in which the material is typically ordered from suppliers.
Order Price Unit: The unit of measure in which the material’s price is typically negotiated and agreed upon with suppliers.
Material Group: A grouping classification that helps categorize materials based on common procurement characteristics.
Manufacturer Part Number: The part number assigned to the material by its manufacturer, if applicable.
Manufacturer: The name of the manufacturer of the material, if applicable.
Vendor/Material Number: The material number assigned to the material by its vendor or supplier, if applicable.
Material Price Group: Assigns the material to a specific price group, which helps in determining pricing conditions and calculations during procurement.
Lead Time: The lead time required for the material to be delivered from the supplier.
Purchase Order Text: Additional text or notes that can be entered on a purchase order for the material.
Goods Receipt Tolerance: The permissible tolerance limits for the quantity received during goods receipt.

Foreign Trade: Export Data

The Foreign Trade Export Data section of the SAP Material Master contains key attributes that are relevant to handling export processes and complying with foreign trade regulations. These attributes include:

Customs Tariff Number: Also known as the Harmonized System (HS) code, it is an internationally standardized code that classifies the material for customs and trade purposes.
Export Control Class: Specifies the export control classification for the material, indicating if it is subject to any export restrictions or regulations.
Export Control Type: Indicates the type of export control that applies to the material, such as dual-use goods, military items, or embargoed goods.
Country of Origin: The country where the material is produced or manufactured.
Preferential Customs Treatment: Specifies if the material is eligible for any preferential customs treatment, such as free trade agreements or tariff exemptions.
Legal Control: Identifies any legal restrictions or requirements that apply to the export of the material, such as licensing or documentation obligations.
Intrastat Relevant: Indicates whether the material is subject to Intrastat reporting requirements, which involves reporting statistics on the movement of goods within the European Union (EU).
Export Unit of Measure: The unit of measure used for reporting export quantities and values.
Customs Quantity: Specifies the quantity of the material used for customs declarations and reporting purposes.
Dangerous Goods Indicator: Indicates if the material is classified as hazardous or dangerous goods for transport and export purposes.
Export License: Provides information about any export licenses or permits required for shipping the material to specific countries or destinations.
Additional Export Information: Allows for the inclusion of additional text or notes related to the export of the material.

Foreign Trade: Import Data

The Foreign Trade Import Data section of the SAP Material Master contains key attributes that are relevant to managing import processes and complying with foreign trade regulations. These attributes include:

Customs Tariff Number: Also known as the Harmonized System (HS) code, it is an internationally standardized code that classifies the material for customs and trade purposes.
Country of Origin: The country from which the material originates or is manufactured.
Preference Code: Specifies any preference code or indicator related to import duties or customs regulations.
Import Control: Indicates if there are any import control measures or restrictions applicable to the material, such as licensing requirements or quotas.
Import License: Provides information about any import licenses or permits required for importing the material from specific countries or sources.
Legal Control: Identifies any legal restrictions or requirements that apply to the import of the material, such as compliance with specific regulations or documentation obligations.
Intrastat Relevant: Indicates whether the material is subject to Intrastat reporting requirements, which involves reporting statistics on the movement of goods within the European Union (EU).
Import Unit of Measure: The unit of measure used for reporting import quantities and values.
Customs Quantity: Specifies the quantity of the material used for customs declarations and reporting purposes during imports.
Dangerous Goods Indicator: Indicates if the material is classified as hazardous or dangerous goods for import purposes, requiring compliance with specific regulations.
Importer’s Reference Number: A reference number provided by the importer for tracking or documentation purposes.
Additional Import Information: Allows for the inclusion of additional text or notes related to the import of the material.

MRP

The MRP (Material Requirements Planning) Data section of the SAP Material Master contains key attributes that are relevant to the planning and execution of material requirements. Here are 20 key attributes within this section:

Lot Size: Specifies the quantity in which the material is planned and procured.
Procurement Type: Determines how the material is procured, such as in-house production or external procurement.
Planning Time Fence: Sets a time interval within which changes to the material requirements plan are not allowed without specific authorization.
Reorder Point: Specifies the inventory level at which a replenishment order should be triggered for the material.
Safety Stock: The quantity of stock maintained as a buffer to protect against unexpected fluctuations in demand or supply.
Maximum Stock Level: Sets the upper limit for the inventory level of the material.
Minimum Remaining Shelf Life: Specifies the minimum remaining shelf life required for a material at the time of goods receipt or consumption.
Consumption Mode: Determines how the material’s requirements are consumed or deducted from inventory.
Availability Check: Specifies whether an availability check should be performed for the material during material requirements planning.
Scheduling Margin Key: Sets the amount of time to be added to the planned delivery time for calculating the material’s availability date.
Planning Strategy: Defines the strategy used for material requirements planning, such as make-to-order or make-to-stock.
Planning Calendar: Assigns a planning calendar to the material, which helps determine working days and non-working days for planning purposes.
Special Procurement Type: Specifies any special procurement types or methods for the material.
Procurement Plant: The plant responsible for procuring the material.
Backflush: Indicates whether a backflush should be triggered during material consumption.
Maximum Lot Size: Sets the upper limit for the lot size when procuring the material.
Minimum Lot Size: Specifies the minimum lot size when procuring the material.
Rounding Profile: Defines the rounding rules for quantities during material requirements planning.
Storage Location MRP Indicator: Indicates whether the material is subject to storage location-specific MRP settings.
BOM Explosion: Specifies the BOM explosion control for the material during material requirements planning.

Storage

The Storage Data section of the SAP Material Master contains key attributes that are relevant to the storage and handling of a material within a warehouse or storage location. These attributes include:

Storage Location: The specific physical location within a plant where the material is stored.
Storage Type: The type of storage area within the storage location, such as bulk storage, rack storage, or hazardous material storage.
Storage Section: Further subdivision within a storage type, specifying a specific section or area where the material is stored.
Storage Bin: The specific storage bin or location within a storage section where the material is stored.
Warehouse Management System (WMS) Indicator: Indicates whether the material is managed using a warehouse management system for advanced inventory and warehouse management functionality.
Handling Unit Management: Specifies if the material is managed using handling units, which are containers that group multiple items for transportation or storage.
Storage Conditions: Describes the specific storage conditions required for the material, such as temperature, humidity, or light conditions.
Storage Unit: Defines the unit of measure used for storing the material, such as pallets, cases, or boxes.
Maximum Stack Height: Sets the maximum permissible height of stacks containing the material to ensure safe storage and handling.
Hazardous Material Indicator: Indicates whether the material is classified as hazardous or dangerous goods that require special storage and handling considerations.
Batch Management: Specifies if the material is managed using batch or lot numbers, allowing for traceability and control of material batches.
Shelf Life Expiration Date: If applicable, indicates the expiration date or shelf life period of the material.
Serial Number Profile: Determines if the material is tracked and managed using unique serial numbers.
Storage Bin Type: Defines the type or category of storage bin used for the material, such as picking bin, reserve bin, or bulk storage bin.
Putaway Strategy: Specifies the strategy or rules for determining the location or bin for storing the material during putaway.
Stock Removal Strategy: Determines the strategy or rules for selecting the storage bin from which the material is to be picked or removed.
Availability Check: Indicates whether an availability check should be performed for the material when allocating it to a storage bin.
Handling Unit Type: If using handling units, specifies the type or category of handling unit used for the material.
Storage Bin Quantity: Specifies the maximum quantity that can be stored in a particular storage bin for the material.
Storage Bin Capacity: Indicates the maximum weight or volume that a storage bin can hold for the material.

Warehouse

When warehouse management (WM) is implemented there are several key attributes and data elements related to warehouse management that can be associated with the material master. These attributes include:

Warehouse Number: Identifies the specific warehouse or storage facility where the material is located.
Storage Type: Defines the type of storage area within the warehouse, such as bulk storage, rack storage, or hazardous material storage.
Storage Section: Further subdivision within a storage type, specifying a specific section or area where the material is stored.
Storage Bin: The specific storage bin or location within a storage section where the material is stored.
Handling Unit Management: Specifies if the material is managed using handling units, which are containers that group multiple items for transportation or storage.
Storage Conditions: Describes the specific storage conditions required for the material, such as temperature, humidity, or light conditions.
Maximum Stack Height: Sets the maximum permissible height of stacks containing the material to ensure safe storage and handling.
Hazardous Material Indicator: Indicates whether the material is classified as hazardous or dangerous goods that require special storage and handling considerations.
Batch Management: Specifies if the material is managed using batch or lot numbers, allowing for traceability and control of material batches.
Shelf Life Expiration Date: If applicable, indicates the expiration date or shelf life period of the material.
Serial Number Profile: Determines if the material is tracked and managed using unique serial numbers.
Putaway Strategy: Specifies the strategy or rules for determining the location or bin for storing the material during putaway.
Stock Removal Strategy: Determines the strategy or rules for selecting the storage bin from which the material is to be picked or removed.
Availability Check: Indicates whether an availability check should be performed for the material when allocating it to a storage bin.
Handling Unit Type: If using handling units, specifies the type or category of handling unit used for the material.
Storage Bin Quantity: Specifies the maximum quantity that can be stored in a particular storage bin for the material.
Storage Bin Capacity: Indicates the maximum weight or volume that a storage bin can hold for the material.

Quality Management

The Quality Management Data section of the SAP Material Master contains key attributes that are relevant to quality management processes and specifications for a material. These attributes include:

Inspection Type: Specifies the type of inspection required for the material, such as goods receipt inspection, in-process inspection, or final product inspection.
Inspection Interval: Sets the frequency or time interval at which inspections should be conducted for the material.
Inspection Plan: Refers to the inspection plan assigned to the material, which defines the sequence of inspections, characteristics to be checked, and acceptance criteria.
Sampling Procedure: Specifies the sampling procedure to be followed during inspections, such as random sampling, sequential sampling, or attributes sampling.
Inspection Setup: Defines the specific parameters and settings for conducting inspections, including control indicators, inspection methods, and sampling schemes.
Inspection Specifications: Describes the specific quality specifications and requirements for the material, such as dimensional tolerances, material composition, or performance criteria.
Inspection Points: Indicates the specific stages or points within the production process where inspections should be performed.
Quality Score: Provides a measure or rating of the quality of the material, which may be based on inspection results or other quality metrics.
Quality Level: Sets the desired level of quality for the material, which may be defined by internal quality standards or customer requirements.
Quality Assurance Indicator: Indicates whether the material has passed quality assurance checks or meets the required quality standards.
Quality Certificate: Specifies if a quality certificate is required for the material and provides information on its issuance and validity.
Quality Control Key: Assigns a specific quality control key to the material, which helps determine the quality control activities to be performed.
Quality Control Chart: Specifies the type of quality control chart or graphical representation used for monitoring and analyzing quality characteristics of the material.
Quality Info Record: Refers to the record that contains information about the quality aspects of the material, including vendor-specific quality data.
Quality Management System (QMS) Integration: Indicates if the material is integrated with a quality management system or external quality systems.
Quality Notifications: Specifies if quality notifications or non-conformance reports should be created for the material in case of quality issues or deviations.
Batch Status Management: Determines the management and control of batch statuses, such as release, blocked, or restricted.
Stability Study: Indicates if stability studies are conducted for the material to assess its shelf-life and stability over time.
Quality Inspection Points: Identifies the specific points or locations within the material where quality inspections are required, such as specific features or components.
Quality Control Results: Tracks and records the results of quality control tests and inspections performed on the material.

Accounting

The Accounting Data section of the SAP Material Master contains key attributes that are relevant to the financial and accounting aspects of a material. These attributes include:

Valuation Class: Specifies the valuation class to which the material belongs, which determines how the material is valued in the financial accounting system.
Price Control: Defines the price control indicator for the material, indicating whether the material is valuated at a standard price or moving average price.
Valuation Category: Identifies the valuation category of the material, such as raw material, finished goods, or trading goods.
Material Group: Assigns the material to a specific material group for reporting and analysis purposes.
Material Type: Indicates the material type classification, which determines the accounting and management characteristics of the material.
Profit Center: Assigns a profit center to the material, enabling cost and revenue allocations to specific business areas.
Price Unit: Specifies the unit of measure used for pricing the material, which may differ from the base unit of measure.
Standard Price: Defines the standard price of the material, which is used for valuation and cost calculations.
Moving Average Price: Indicates the moving average price of the material, which is calculated based on the historical cost of goods receipts and issues.
Price Unit Conversion: Specifies the conversion factor between the base unit of measure and the price unit of measure.
Currency: Defines the currency in which the material is priced and valued.
Inventory Account: Specifies the general ledger account to which the material’s inventory value is posted.
Consumption Account: Identifies the general ledger account to which the material’s consumption or usage value is posted.
Reconciliation Account: Assigns a reconciliation account for the material, which is used to reconcile the inventory and consumption accounts.
Tax Category: Indicates the tax category applicable to the material, which determines the tax calculation and reporting requirements.
Costing Lot Size: Specifies the lot size used for cost calculation purposes, determining how costs are allocated to the material during production or procurement.
Standard Cost Estimate: Indicates the standard cost estimate for the material, which is used for cost planning and analysis.
Accounting Views: Allows the definition of multiple accounting views for the material, each with its own set of accounting-related attributes.
Account Assignment Category: Specifies the account assignment category for the material, which determines how costs are assigned to cost centers or orders.
Material Ledger: Indicates if the material is managed using the material ledger, which enables multiple valuation approaches and currency valuation.

Costing

The Costing Data section of the SAP Material Master contains key attributes that are relevant to the costing and cost calculation processes for a material. These attributes include:

Costing Variant: Specifies the costing variant that determines the rules and methods used for cost calculation for the material.
Costing Type: Identifies the costing type used for the material, such as standard costing, moving average costing, or actual costing.
Base Unit of Measure: Defines the base unit of measure for the material, which is used as the reference for cost calculations.
Overhead Key: Assigns an overhead key to the material, which determines the overhead rates and calculation formulas for cost allocation.
Valuation Variant: Specifies the valuation variant used for the material, which defines the rules and settings for inventory valuation.
Base Planning Object: Identifies the base planning object for the material, such as a cost center or a production order, which is used for cost planning.
Cost Component Structure: Refers to the cost component structure assigned to the material, which breaks down the total cost into various cost components.
Costing Sheet: Specifies the costing sheet assigned to the material, which defines the sequence of cost components and cost elements for cost calculation.
Routing/Recipe Selection: Determines the routing or recipe used for cost calculation, which specifies the sequence of operations or steps involved in production.
Price Determination Control: Sets the control parameters for price determination during cost calculation, such as standard price, moving average price, or user exit.
Lot Size: Defines the lot size used for cost calculation purposes, determining how costs are allocated to the material during production or procurement.
Cost Estimate Quantity: Specifies the quantity used as the basis for cost calculation, such as the planned production quantity or the base quantity for cost allocation.
Cost Estimate Validity Start/End Date: Indicates the validity period for the cost estimate, specifying the time range during which the cost is applicable.
Variable Size Unit: Refers to the variable-size unit of measure used for cost calculation, such as length, weight, or volume.
Variable Size Conversion: Specifies the conversion factor between the base unit of measure and the variable-size unit of measure.
Costing Level: Determines the level at which costs are calculated, such as plant level, material level, or batch level.
Costing Result Analysis: Indicates if the results of the cost calculation should be analyzed and evaluated.
Cost Estimate with Quantity Structure: Specifies whether the cost estimate includes the quantity structure, which includes all the components required for production.
Profitability Segment: Assigns a profitability segment to the material, enabling cost and revenue allocations to specific business segments.
Unit Costing: Determines whether unit costing should be performed for the material, which calculates the cost per unit of measure.

Work Scheduling

The Work Scheduling section of the SAP Material Master contains key attributes that are relevant to scheduling and planning work activities related to the material. These attributes include:

Scheduling Margin Key: Specifies the scheduling margin key, which determines the time buffer or safety margin to be considered during scheduling.
Float Before Production: Indicates the float or buffer time that should be maintained before the start of production for the material.
Float After Production: Specifies the float or buffer time that should be maintained after the completion of production for the material.
In-House Production Time: Defines the standard in-house production time required to produce the material, excluding any external processing time.
Planned Delivery Time: Specifies the planned delivery time for the material, which represents the time required to deliver the material to the customer.
Processing Time: Indicates the processing time required for the material during production or any other work activities.
Total Replenishment Lead Time: Defines the total replenishment lead time for the material, which includes all the time required to procure or produce the material.
Goods Receipt Processing Time: Specifies the time required for processing goods receipts for the material, including inspection and quality checks.
Setup Time: Indicates the setup time required for preparing the equipment or resources before starting the production of the material.
Tear-Down Time: Specifies the tear-down time required for dismantling or cleaning the equipment or resources after completing the production of the material.
Capacity Category: Identifies the capacity category assigned to the material, which determines the type of resources or work centers required for production.
Production Scheduler Group: Assigns a production scheduler group to the material, which helps in the prioritization and sequencing of production orders.
Production Supervisor: Specifies the production supervisor responsible for overseeing the production activities related to the material.
Task List Usage: Defines the task list usage for the material, indicating the specific type of task list or routing used for work scheduling.
Scheduling Type: Determines the scheduling type for the material, such as backward scheduling, forward scheduling, or finite scheduling.
Schedule Margin Key for Floats: Assigns a schedule margin key for floats, which specifies the buffer or safety margin to be considered for scheduling floats.
Scheduling Indicator: Indicates the scheduling indicator assigned to the material, which determines the scheduling behavior and rules.
Order Type: Specifies the order type to be used for production or work activities related to the material.
Scheduling Parameters: Sets additional scheduling parameters or settings specific to the material, such as scheduling formulas or sequencing rules.
Capacity Overload: Indicates the tolerance for capacity overload during scheduling, specifying the permissible level of capacity utilization.

Production Resource and Tools

The Production Resource and Tools section of the SAP Material Master contains key attributes that are relevant to the production resources and tools associated with the material. These attributes include:

Work Center: Specifies the work center or production facility where the material is produced or processed.
Routing: Refers to the routing or recipe assigned to the material, which defines the sequence of operations or steps involved in production.
Control Key: Identifies the control key assigned to the material, which determines the production control parameters and settings.
Backflushing: Indicates whether backflushing is enabled for the material, which automatically posts goods movements and consumption during production.
Routing Usage: Specifies the routing usage for the material, indicating how the routing is used, such as for standard production or maintenance activities.
Standard Value Key: Assigns a standard value key to the material, which represents the standard times and values associated with the production operations.
Standard Values: Defines the standard times and values for the production operations, including setup time, processing time, and teardown time.
Work Center Category: Identifies the category of the work center assigned to the material, such as machine center, labor center, or cost center.
Capacity Requirement: Specifies the capacity requirement for the material, indicating the amount of resources or work center capacity needed for production.
Utilization: Indicates the utilization rate of the work center or resources assigned to the material, representing the level of capacity utilization.
Scrap Percentage: Specifies the percentage of scrap or waste material expected during the production process.
Production Version: Refers to the production version assigned to the material, which represents a specific configuration or variant of the production process.
PRTs (Production Resources and Tools): Lists the production resources and tools required for the material, such as machinery, tools, jigs, or fixtures.
PRT Usage: Specifies the usage of production resources and tools for the material, indicating how they are utilized during the production process.
PRT Quantity: Defines the quantity or number of production resources and tools required for the material during production.
PRT Status: Indicates the status of the production resources and tools, such as available, in use, or out of service.
PRT Availability: Specifies the availability or availability period of the production resources and tools for production.
PRT Replacement Time: Identifies the time required for replacing or changing the production resources and tools during the production process.
PRT Cost: Provides the cost associated with the production resources and tools used for the material.
PRT Usage Probability: Specifies the probability or likelihood of using specific production resources and tools during the production process.

Additional Information associated/related to SAP Material Master

Additional information related to Material Master includes

Bill of Material
Recipe
Routing
Purchase Info Record
Source List
Pricing Conditions
Characteristics
Specification Data
Product Safety/Dangerous Goods Information
…