Batch Level (SAP Library - Batch Management (LO-BM))

Batch Level

Use

You can manage batches in different plants for many materials. For this reason, batches must be uniquely identifiable. In the SAP System, the batch number uniquely identifies the batch. You use the batch level to specify whether the batch number for a material is unique in one plant, or in all plants.

Prerequisites

You choose the batch level in Customizing for Batch Management under Specify Batch Level and Activate Status Management.

Features

Batch Levels

Plant level
The batch number is unique in connection with the plant and material.

The batch number is only known in the plant in which it was created if the stock is transferred to another plant, the batch is unknown in the recipient plant and the system does not adopt any data. You have to recreate and specify the batch in the receiving plant; that is, the same batch number may have different specifications in several plants.

Material level:
The batch number is unique in all plants in connection with the material.

The same batch number has the same meaning for the material in all plants. One batch number cannot have different specifications in different plants. During stock transfer to another plant, the specification of the batch is known in the destination plant even if the batch is placed into storage in that plant for the first time.

Client level:
The batch number is unique in the whole client. A batch number can only be assigned once in the client. You cannot assign the same batch number for different materials.

The batch number is only unique at the chosen level.

For more information about batch numbers, refer to Batch Number Assignment.

Changing the Batch Level

In the standard SAP System, the plant level is set as the batch level. If you want to use a different level in your company, you have to change it in Customizing and carry out a conversion program.

You choose the batch level in Customizing for Batch Management under Specify Batch Level and Activate Status Management.

Note

While the conversion program is running, you can only post batches at the old level. You can only post batches at the new level after the conversion has been completed.
You cannot change back from a higher level to plant level in the standard system. However, you can change the batch level from client level back to material level.
To change the batch level from plant level to material level, the material has to be subject to batch management in all plants.