The Quant and Stock Management in WM (SAP Library

The Quant and Stock Management in WM

Definition

Stock is managed in the SAP Warehouse Management system in quants — separate identifiable quantities of material — that are stored in the warehouse.

Is a quant simply a "quantity" of material?

Yes, however, it is a quantity of material with similar characteristics in a single storage bin. Therefore, if there is a quantity of the same material in a bin that has two separate batch numbers, for example, there would be 2 quants in that bin.

Structure

What data identifies separate quants in a storage bin?

When a storage bin is occupied, the system maintains data about the materials that are stored at that location in the quant record. This information includes:

Quant identification

Plant

Material number

Batch number

Stock category

Special stock indicator and number

If a single storage bin contains 100 pieces of material ABC as follows:

Batch 01 = 20 pieces

Batch 02 = 50 pieces

Batch 02 = 30 pieces of inspection stock

There are 3 quants in this storage bin.

The following graphic illustrates how quants are used in storage bins:

From left to right:

The first storage bin has two quants, a single quant for material 1 and a single quant for material 2.

The second bin contains 2 quants of material 3, each with a separate batch number.

The third bin has a single quant of material 4.

The fourth bin has 2 quants of material 5. The first quant is quality inspection stock with a stock category of "Q". The second quant of material 5 has been released from inspection and is now "unrestricted" stock that is available for use.

The amount of material in a quant can be increased by adding material to existing stock.

The different types of stock (categories) and special stock are passed to WM from IM and serve as stock separation characteristics in the quant. WM has no stock categories nor any special stock types of its own.

Since it is possible to manage stocks from different plants within one warehouse complex number, the plant must also exist as a stock separation characteristic in the quant.

Active storage unit management in a storage type can also influence the number of quants in a storage bin. (To see how quants are handled in SU-managed storage types, see Warehouse Management at the Storage Unit Level)

In customizing, for each storage type you can define whether only one quant or several quants can be stored in a storage bin. For each storage type, you can allow mixed or homogeneous storage (see Storing Materials in the Warehouse). You can also permit the addition to existing stock at this level. This means that goods with the same material number and the same additional quant criteria can be combined during putaways and stock transfers.

When adding materials to existing stock, quant characteristics are combined. This means that the quant information in the stock that is added to existing stock is lost and takes on the quant characteristics of the stock that is already stored in the bin. This includes, for example, the goods receipt date and caution should be exercised for FIFO stock. This quant information does not go away until the storage bin has been completely emptied.

What additional data is kept in the quant record?

Data about the last transfer

Data about the last inventory

Stock amounts, for example stock that is available or stock that is being transferred to or from a storage bin

Blocking indicators

How is a quant created?

When you store goods in an empty storage bin in WM, the system creates the quant in the bin. This means that the system issues a quant number and, when the quantity of material is picked, the quant number is automatically deleted again.

This number has no significant meaning for your company and is used for management purposes in WM.

Integration

Why is the use of the quant meaningful in WM?

Since the system automatically assigns a quant number to each separate quant in WM, the system can optimize material flow and manage stock in the warehouse more efficiently.

Shelf life expiration date (SLED)

The SLED field only exists in the quant when shelf life management is active in Materials Management (MM). This happens when the material master is maintained accordingly.

During a stock placement in MM you can enter either the production date or the shelf life expiration date. This depends upon whether the field Remaining shelf life has been maintained in the material master record. For example, if 10 days have been entered into this field, the system assumes that when goods are received, the production date was entered and calculates the shelf life automatically. If you leave this field empty in the material master, the system makes it possible for you to directly enter the shelf life expiration date.

This date that is entered or calculated during the goods receipt is then noted in the quant that is created in the storage bin. If you add stock to an existing quant in a storage bin, the shelf life expiration date of the new quantity that is added is lost.

See also:

Shelf Life Expiration Date