Material Master Number Ranges

[Former Member]

What are the Advantages if we maintain internal number ranges and What are the disadvantages, if we maintain the external Number Ranges in Materials Master

[Former Member]

ok

[Former Member]

<b>Internal number assignment</b>

In this case, a number within the number range interval allowed is assigned by the SAP R/3 System.

internal numbering system are that it is sequential, automatically generated, does not require understanding/knowledge of the logic used to number materials, etc.

On the other hand however, internal numbers will cause the maximum change to internal users, suppliers and customers of the organization. They are difficult to memorize as there is no intelligence behind them, and will require a long drawn task of assigning new material numbers and maintaining a cross-reference.

<b>External number assignment </b>

Here, the user assigns a number within the number range interval allowed. You can define the intervals for external number assignment numerically and alphanumerically.

Can have your own stragery in defining the material number, can format the material for easy reporting, etc.

On the other hand, can miss the number while creating them, more chances of error, etc.

Regards,

Gauravjit

Reward points if the explaination is helpful

[revi_wiratman]

Internal number range

Pros:

- Provides flexibility if there are changes in requirements of numbering sequence. If it is not possible to create a new number range, the new requirement can always be applied to an existing numbering range with a small risk that we will be running out of number.

- Avoid the possibility of typing incorrect number when creating the materials.

Cons:

- Less intuitive. It is difficult to see what the material actually represents just by looking at the number.

External number range

Pros:

- More intuitive. User can assign certain format on how the number should be coded and hence, provides meaning on what the number actually represents.

Cons:

- More chance you'll be out of range you can use. This is more so if you are using alpha numerice as part of number range. In the end, this leaves less room for future requirements.

- More chance of errors when assigning new number to the material as this is completely dependent on the users.

Note:

- If you go with internal number range, it is normally recommended that you also activate material classification so you can easily find the material based on its attribtues.

- If you go with external number range, you normally would want to activate the user exit on material master so you can ring fence the range of number the user can enter. Keep in mind that when you specify A0000 to ZZZZZ in the number range, SAP considers A000000 to be within the same range.