In this step, you define product hierarchies which you can use for statistical analysis or pricing, for example, or you can change their structure. The product hierarchy groups materials by combining different characteristics. Each characteristic is represented by a specific product hierarchy level.
A product hierarchy can be structured as follows:
In this example, a dishwasher belongs to
product hierarchy 000010000200000003.
In the standard system, the product hierarchy consists of up to 3 levels. The first and second levels have 5 digits and the third level has 8. The maximum number of digits is 18 and the maximum number of levels is 9.
You can define hierarchy nodes at the
individual levels of the product hierarchy.
From the initial screen you can branch to the following steps:
The product hierarchy can be structured via DDIC structure PRODHS. In the standard system, a product hierarchy can be created with up to three levels. The individual levels can contain the following number of digits:
Level
1
2
3
This can be changed as of Release 3.0, where it is possible to extend the maximum number of levels to 9.
If you want to change the standard setting of PRODHS, e.g. you want to change the number of levels, proceed as follows:
You want to change the structure of the product hierarchy from 5/5/8 digits to 5/5/5/3. Proceed as follows:
Create the following domains:
ZPRODH3 with length 5, category CHAR,
ZPRODH4 with length 3, category CHAR,
Change structure PRODHS:
Note
The structure PRODHS and the data elements
PRODH1, ..., PRODH9 are only provided by SAP with Release 3.0 and can be
changed by the customer from this point onwards.
The product hierarchy can be assigned to a conversion routine. The name of the conversion routine is PRODH. The output template can be defined in Customizing (see below).
The separators used in the template are not allowed for maintaining the product hierarchy nodes.
Example:
If the template is _____/_____/__________
The symbol "/" cannot be used when maintaining
the product hierarchy nodes. In this case, the following entry would not be
allowed: 123456/79012345678
The description of a product hierarchy can be determined via concatenation, if required.
Proceed as follows:
The text concatenation is valid for the entire product hierarchy, the concatenated text has a length of 20. Text concatenation can be activated/deactivated in Customizing (see below).
Note
Make sure during text concatenation that the
text of the product hierarchy does not come from table T179T. In this case
function module RV_PRODUKTHIERARCHIE_TEXT_GET is available.
If you have stored a template for the conversion routine, the separators in the template are not allowed.
You can make two settings regarding the layout of the product hierarchy and the format of the product hierarchy text:
The product hierarchy can be freely defined and include up to three levels. The SAP System checks the entry in the field product hierarchy during master data maintenance and copies it to the SD document. The separators used in the template cannot be used in the product hierarchy.
Via a matchcode you can search specifically for material master records with a product hierarchy.
Analyze the product hierarchies in your organization and define their representation in the SAP System.
The product hierarchy can be used for functions in pricing. Then the fields of the product hierarchy structure must be entered into the field catalog for pricing.
Enter the fields of the product hierarchy in
the field catalog.
The product hierarchy can be used for statistical analyses in the Logistics Information System. The fields of the product hierarchy structure must then be entered in a field catalog for the Logistics Information System.
Enter the product hierarchy in a field catalog. You can refer to field catalog 'VPHI', which displays the standard settings.