Material Master: Material Type configuration

SAP version used for this post: SAP ECC (ERP Central Component) 5.0
When creating a material, you need to specify the material type.

The Material type is the highest level of categorization of material masters.

Material Types defined in configuration and below is a summary of main areas that material
type influence:

Number range of material master and if it is internal (system allocated) or external

(user allocate number)

Which fields in material are mandatory / read only / optional

User departments (Views in material)

Purchase Orders allowed

Valid valuation classes

Quantity and Value update (does it update stock qty and value)

Is it a pipeline material or not

.... and many more

Standard SAP Material Types include:

ABF - Waste
CH00 - CH Contract Handling

CONT - Kanban Container

COUP - Coupons
DIEN - Service
ERSA - Spare Parts
FERT - Finished Product
FGTR - Beverages
FHMI - Production Resource/Tool
FOOD - Foods (excl. perishables)
FRIP - Perishables
HALB - Semifinished Product
HAWA - Trading Goods
HERS - Manufacturer Part
HIBE - Operating supplies
IBAU - Maintenance assemblies
INTR - Intra materials
KMAT - Configurable materials
LEER - Empties
LEIH - Returnable packaging
LGUT - Empties (retail)
MODE - Apparel (seasonal)
NLAG - Non-stock materials
NOF1 - Nonfoods
PIPE - Pipeline materials
PLAN - Trading goods (planned)
PROC - Process materials
PROD - Product groups
ROH - Raw materials
UNBW - Nonvaluated materials
VERP - Packaging
VKHM - Additionals
VOLL - Full products
WERB - Product catalogs
WERT - Value-only materials
WETT - Competitor products
The main configuration of material type is in transaction OMS2
IMG: Logistics > Material Master > Basic Settings > Material Type > Define Attributes
(OMS2)

Some settings can be done per plant

This information resides in:

T134 - Material Type
T134T - Material Type: Text
T134M - Material Type: Valuation area data
For number range configuration, the transaction is:
IMG: Logistics > Material Master > Basic Settings > Material Type > Define Number range
(MMNR)

First create a Group

Then link the material type to it

This is the main settings of material type. In later articles, we will address other configuration
that can be be done per material type.