| A number of master data files in MM require a | | | | Many tables are updated when information is |
| significant amount of understanding, not only on | | | | entered into the Material Master transaction. The |
| the part of the SAP consultant but also on the | | | | Material Master transaction is structured so that |
| part of the SAP customer. When implementing | | | | there are entry screens for different functional |
| SAP, customers are generally transitioning from | | | | information items such as Purchasing, Sales, or |
| one or more legacy systems. A key aspect of | | | | Accounting, but there is also an organizational |
| any implementation is the conversion of data to | | | | dimension to data entry. The material information |
| the master data files in SAP. | | | | can be entered at each level of the organization, |
| A fundamental indicator of a successful | | | | for example, at the levels of plant, storage |
| implementation is the level to which the data has | | | | location, or sales organization. |
| been correctly converted into the SAP master | | | | An issue that SAP customers can face when |
| data files. In this chapter, we will examine the | | | | converting their item files over to the Material |
| master data files that are integral to the practice | | | | Master is whether to keep their legacy numbering |
| of MM. The following sections examine each of | | | | scheme by continuing to enter their own material |
| the master data files in the MM module, and the | | | | numbers. Customers have the option of allowing |
| necessary configuration steps for the creation of | | | | SAP to automatically assign material numbers. |
| master data are described. | | | | Often, legacy systems have meaningful material |
| When customers implement SAP, they are often | | | | numbering. This numbering has usually been in |
| overwhelmed by the information contained in the | | | | place for some time, and employees are familiar |
| Material Master file. When customers examine | | | | with the numbering. For the simplicity of |
| their existing systems, such as BPICS, JDEdwards, | | | | maintenance, automatic assignment of material |
| or Lawson, they find that their product or | | | | numbers is the best choice. When working with |
| material files contain a fraction of the data | | | | your client, be aware that there are arguments to |
| contained in the SAP Material Master. | | | | use and not to use a meaningful numbering |
| The Material Master transaction allows the users | | | | scheme in SAP. |
| to enter all the information relevant to a particular | | | | The material number field is defined in |
| item of material into the correct tables. The | | | | configuration. Using the Transaction OMSL or the |
| Material Master is not just one file, but a number | | | | navigation path IMG Logistics - General Material |
| of tables that contain information that combined | | | | Master Basic Settings Define Output Format for |
| reflect all the information for that material. | | | | Material Numbers. |