SAP MM

Batch Management
Batch management is used to identify one lot of production from another. This helps in
tracking the lots during their life-cycle, as well as recording the unique characteristics of each
lot. For instance, the expiry date or date of production of 2 lots can be different.
Batch Management can be applied to both process and discrete manufacturing industry. It is
tightly integrated with all business processes viz., procurement, manufacturing, sales and
inventory management. Some of the prominent functionalities supported as part of standard
SAP batch management process are as under:
Batch Specification / Classification - Classes can be defined for a batch and characteristic
values can be entered accordingly.
Auto Batch Creation Batches can be configured to be automatically created as part of
certain standard SAP processes.
Batch Determination - This provides an automatic batch search technique based on predefined criteria. It is useful during Goods Issue and SAP condition technique is used to
configure this. It also helps in searching for batches using specifications.
Batch Status - it specifies whether the batch is active, can be used further etc.
Configuration Steps:
Step 1 Click on the link below specify batch level and activate status management.

The first setting is, at what level the batch number should be unique. The default setting is as
below,

The advantage of having batch unique at material

level is, the batch number remains consistent during stock transfer between different plants.
Next the batch status management is activated,

The node initial status of a new batch

allows to set the status as restricted when a new batch is created. If there is no check mark
against initial status as shown in the figure below, the stock remains unrestricted. This
setting is at material type level. The check box may not be required to be set in case Quality
Management is active. With QM, the stocks are anyways inspected, so putting them into
restricted would increase one more step of bringing them from restricted to quality inspection
stock.

The node plants with batch status management will be required if batch level is at plant
level.
Step 2 Activate batch number assignmentThe batch number can be internally assigned or
externally assignment. Depending upon the business requirement, it can be configured.
Step 3 Creation of new batchesThe new batches can be created automatically by the system
or manually vide transaction code MSC1N. To create batches automatically during certain
transactions / movement types, follow the path to the following node in configuration:

The node "define batch creation for production order / process order", allows you to
configure for a combination of plant and production scheduling profile. It specifies whether a
batch is created automatically at production order creation or production order release or no
batch creation at all. Similarly batch creation for goods movement controls the batch
creation for each movement type. The next node controls the batch creation for each material
type, as shown below.

Step 4 Batch ValuationThis step is used to

maintain batch characteristic values while creating batches in the background (automatically)
or manually in the foreground. Batch characteristics are also useful when batch determination
functionality is required during goods issue. The batch anyways inherits the material
characteristics / class for which it is created.

Step 5 Batch DeterminationIt uses the

standard sap access sequence search strategy. Over here, strategy type is like condition type
in pricing. The following screen shows how to set it up.

Click on the above node and the list of existing strategy types will appear.

A new strategy type can be created here,

preferably a copy of one of the existing strategy type. These strategy types are then used in
Batch search procedure definition as shown below.

The batch search procedure configured above, now needs to be allocated to IM movement
types.

Step 6 Define Sort RulesThis step determines, as the name suggests, a rule is created to sort
the batches during batch determination. This sorting happens based on the characteristics
defined for the batch.
Step 7 Master Data SettingIn material master, batch management indicatory needs to be
set if the material is to be handled in batches.
The condition type / strategy type for batch determination needs to be maintained. The T
Code for the same is MBC1.

The key combination displayed above (for

T Code MBC1) is as per the access sequence configured under batch determination and
batch check.
Shelf Life Expiration Date Check:
This can be enabled as per the node below.