This blog will focus on how to use standard SAP Batch Determination for a material transfer. If you are using SAP Batch functionality to track materials odds are pretty good that you need SAP to pick the batch from inventory with the earliest Shelf Life Expiration Date (SLED).

As I have mentioned in the past my goal is that any knowledgeable SAP person can successfully use the following information, however this is not a step by step instruction manual and does require a good understanding of SAP and SAP Batch Management.

In this Blog we will be using standard IM search strategy ME001 – Standard Search Procedure. And we will activate the determination rule for IM Movement 311 (Sloc to SLoc) in a plant for a specific material.  In this Blog we will use First In / Fist Out (FIFO) search strategy based on Shelf Life Expiration Date (SLED).  The same steps can be used for other IM Movements.

Configuration Steps

1.  Define Inventory Management Search Procedure

IMG > Logistics – General > Batch Management > Batch Determination and Batch Check > Batch Search Procedure Definition > Define Inventory Management Search Procedure

The below search procedure contains two condition types. Condition type ME01 is setup for movement type, plant and material, which fits the purposes of this Blog.

You can add / remove condition types based on your requirements.

2.  Activate Procedure – Allocate IM Search Procedure/Activate Check

IMG > Logistics – General > Batch Management > Batch Determination and Batch Check > Batch Search Procedure Activation and Check Activation > Allocate IM Search Procedure/Activate Check

The next step is to “activate” the search procedure for movement type 311.

Add search procedure ME0001 and check the “Check batch” box. The “Check batch” box ensures that any Batch Number that is manually entered while using movement type 311 will be validated by SAP.

3. Define Sort Rule – By SLED

IMG > Logistics > Batch Management > Batch Determination and Batch Check > Define Sort Rule

Now we need to create the sort sequence for Batch Determination.

• Enter Sort sequence “name” – ZFIFO

• Enter Description. Then hit “Characteristics” icon.

• Enter Characteristics. We will use standard Batch Characteristic LOBM_VFDAT. This is used for Shelf Life Expiration Date (SLED). Check Ascending column. Ascending tells the system to use the earliest batches based on SLED.

Note: It may be necessary to create batch classes with classifications if your company is not already using it. If your products are batch managed already then the material should already be assigned to a batch class in material master.

4. Create Batch Search Strategy: Initial Screen 

SAP Menu > Logistics > Central Functions > Batch Management > Batch Determination > Batch Search Strategy > For Inventory Management > MBC1 – Create

• Enter Strategy type ME01. This is the condition type for key combination Movement Type, Plant and Material. Keep in mind that in our example in this Blog we want the search procedure to work for one material at goods transfer for one plant.

• Enter Movement Type 311, a plant and the material number.   Fill in other fields as required or needed.

Keep in mind that in our example we wanted the search procedure to work for one material at goods transfer for one plant.   You can use other key combinations like Plant or Plant/Movement type to extend the procedure to all movements & materials in a plant or specific movements in a plant for all materials.

• Hit the “Selection criteria” icon

As mentioned in previous step Batch Classification will need to be setup. In the Blog we assume that your company is already running Batch Management and Batch Classes with Classification are already maintained.   You will need to enter you class type on this screen.

• Hit the “Sort Rule” icon – On this screen enter the Sort Rule created in previous step.

 

If you have question on this or any other PortSAP Consulting blog please feel free to contact us at Blog@PortSAP.com. Or if you are looking for Top Quality SAP Consultants please feel free to contact us.

The author, Ray Hornbrook, has over 19 years of SAP functional and technical experience.  Ray started his career in SAP as a MM/PP Subject Matter Expert (SME) for a SAP implementation in 1998 and is now a Senior Level SAP Consultant.  Since Ray has worked both sides of SAP, business end user and IT professional, he is able to communicate effectively with both IT and Business team members. Having a background as an SAP business end user has helped Ray greatly in his consulting career.  The business background helps him better communicate with the business members of the team.  As well as helping bridge gaps in communication between the IT and Business team members.

To find out more about Ray Hornbrook please check out his LinkedIn profile by clicking HERE.

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