Returns Stock Transport Order

You create a returns stock transport order to trigger a store return.

In a returns stock transport order, you enter information that is the basis for the subsequent logistical and financial processing of the return.

Integration

A customer return can involve a store return and a store return can be part of a return to vendor process. In the customer returns process, the system creates the returns stock transport order automatically when you confirm the corresponding logistical follow-up activity. For more information, see Advanced Returns Management for Customer Returns.

Prerequisites

You have made all the necessary settings in Customizing for Purchasing by choosing Purchase Order Returns Order Advanced Returns Management .
You have defined a release procedure for the relevant purchasing document types if the approval of an authorized user is required before these document types can be processed further.
You do this in Customizing for Purchasing by choosing Purchase Order Release Procedures for Purchase Orders .

For more information, see Release Procedure.
You have made it mandatory to enter a rejection reason during the release procedure. This is to to ensure that the user enters a rejection reason when rejecting either the entire returns document or individual items. You do this by creating appropriate screen layouts for the relevant document types.
You make the relevant settings in Customizing for Purchasing by choosing Purchase Order Define Screen Layout at Document Level and Define Document Types.
You have specified whether a vendor returns material authorization (RMA) number is required for returns to a specific vendor. You can do this in two places:
- In the purchasing organization data of the purchasing info record (this is where the system checks first)
  On the SAP Easy Access screen, choose Logistics Materials Management Purchasing Master Data Info Record Purchasing .
- In the purchasing data of the vendor master record
  On the SAP Easy Access screen, choose Logistics Material Management Purchasing Master Data Vendor Purchasing Change .
Store returns with outbound and inbound deliveries have been configured in Customizing for Purchasing by choosing Purchase Order Returns Order Settings for Store Returns with Out- and Inbound Deliveries .

Features

Entering Returns Information

You enter returns information in a returns stock transport order at item level on the Returns tab page in the item detail area. There are a few ways in which you can speed up data entry:

If you enter returns information on the Returns header tab page, then the system uses it automatically whenever you create a new item. If you do not want to use these default values any more, choose Clear Values.
You can also enter returns information for several items simultaneously by choosing Copy to Items on the Returns header tab page. The system then copies the returns information to all items. This function is useful if you have created a returns stock transport order with reference to a preceding stock transport order. After the system has copied the items from the reference stock transport order, you can enter the returns information at header level and then copy it as described.

Logistical Follow-Up Activity

The logistical follow-up activity code allows you to specify the next step in the logistical processing of the return. When you create a returns stock transport order, you can choose between two logistical follow-up activities: Ship to Plant (follow-up activity code 0004) and Ship to Vendor via Other Plant (follow-up activity code 0006).

Note Note

You can deactivate any unnecessary logistical follow-up activities in Customizing for Advanced Returns Management by choosing Start of the navigation path General Settings Next navigation step Activate and Rename Follow-Up Activities End of the navigation path . You can also replace the default descriptions of the follow-up activity codes with your own descriptions.

End of the note.

Activities

You create a returns stock transport order in the same way as any stock transport order by choosing Start of the navigation path Logistics Next navigation step Materials Management Purchasing Purchase Order Create Vendor/Supplying Plant Known End of the navigation path . You must specify an appropriate order type for Advanced Returns Management. The system selects the Returns Item checkbox automatically for new items. You enter returns information on the Returns tab page either in the header or in the item detail area as described above.

You can create a returns stock transport order item with reference to a previous stock transport order item. If you do so, the system checks that the referenced quantities do not exceed the original quantities. It also displays the document number and item number of the reference document on the Returns tab page in the item detail area.

The system enters some returns information automatically. It selects Ship to Plant as the follow-up activity and enters the same plant that appears in the header as the next plant. However, you can also change the follow-up activity to Ship to Vendor via Other Plant and enter the appropriate vendor. The Next Plant field is not ready for input. If you choose Ship to Vendor via Other Plant, the system selects the Vendor RMA Number Required checkbox automatically in line with your vendor master settings.

When you save the returns stock transport order, the system checks whether or not approval is required. If the document must be approved, it now enters the release workflow for purchasing documents. An authorized user can approve or reject the entire document or individual items, and specify a rejection reason if necessary.

Once the returns stock transport order has been approved, you can create an outbound delivery and post the corresponding goods issue. The system then creates an inbound delivery in the receiving plant.