Instantiating Configurable Materials 
Use
A make-to-order product is identified in logistics processes by the sales order, order item, and material. However, if a configurable material is configured in several different ways in one configuration structure, logistics processes cannot always tell the difference.
To distinguish different configurable assemblies in a BOM that have the same material number, the order BOM maintenance function supports instantiation.
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Instantiation means creating a new instance, by creating a material variant – a new material master – for the configurable material. This material master and the characteristic values assigned to it are linked to the super BOM or order-specific BOM.
You cannot instantiate materials that are not configurable.
Prerequisites
Settings in the Configuration Profile and on the Result Screen
If you define the setting in the profile of the top-level configurable material, it is a default value. In other words, the root profile determines the default starting point for the result screen. The setting then has the same effect on all instances.
If you define the setting dynamically on the result screen, it also effects all instances. For example, if you want to instantiate instance 7, the current global setting applies (for example, selected assemblies).
Features
You can interactively influence the instantiation transaction.
Number assignment
The material number can be assigned manually or internally.
Default data
The data for the new material for each instance can come from either the original material or another material that you select.
Data maintenance
You can specify the industry sector, material type, and material description in a special user interface for maintenance.
Instantiation Options
There are 3 types of instantiation:
Selected assemblies:
The assemblies you select are instantiated.
Top down:
The assembly you select and the entire structure below it are instantiated.
Bottom up:
The assembly you select and all the assemblies in a direct path above it are instantiated.
You define the scope of instantiation in the configuration profile.
The header material cannot be instantiated, even though it is possible to select it if you are using the top-down setting.
See: Fixing Configurable Assemblies . The 3 types are illustrated here.
Variant Matching
To ensure that instantiation does not produce a deluge of new material master records, and that one material number identifies one product, you can trigger type matching for variants before you instantiate a material, to find out whether material variants already exist with the same values. These material variants are proposed for you to copy.
Check for Identical Assemblies
The new material master created by instantiation is not generated until you save. On the configuration structure screen and in the configuration browser, selection for instantiation is shown as an icon.
When you save the instantiation, the system checks for identical assemblies. If the system finds the same assembly with the same assigned values occurring more than once, it merges them to form one material variant. However, this is only possible for materials that are selected for instantiation.
Activities
Instantiating an Order BOM
From the bills of material menu, choose
Order BOM
Maintain (Multi-Level),
and go to the result screen.
Select the assembly that you want to instantiate.
Choose Instantiate.
You see a dialog box in which you enter the material number, the industry sector, and the material type. You can also enter a description and a template material for default data.
Confirm.
The material is now selected for instantiation. The new material master created by instantiation is not generated until you save. On the configuration structure screen and in the configuration browser, selection for instantiation is shown as an icon.
Undoing Instantiation to Reassign Values
On the result screen, select the header of the instantiated assembly or the assembly that is selected for instantiation, and choose Delete.
The configurable material (KMAT) is now in its original position, and values can be assigned or changed.
Conflict with Instantiated Materials
Example: Material BIKE1 occurs multiple times in the BOM structure and was instantiated several times to BIKE2. You want to change one of the material variants BIKE2 by inserting a new material, such as a luggage rack, in the BOM. To avoid a conflict, you must instantiate BIKE2 to BIKE3.
Material Variant and Template Material
The configurable material (KMAT) is instantiated to a material variant. Characteristic values can no longer be assigned or changed, because the material variant is a stock material. This is not the case with a KMAT.
Material variants are not configurable. A frequently occurring error is that the material master is not complete, because the material type of the KMAT and the material type of the material variant are different, and the material master record of the KMAT does not contain all the data required (for example, in the storage view).
Solution:Use a template material. The template material is maintained in the same way as a material variant. All SD fields that are not dependent on the distribution channel are copied.
You enter the template material in the instantiation dialog box.
Result of the Instantiated Material
If you maintain an instantiated material in an order BOM, you automatically change the global material BOM of the material variant. If the material variant is used in other sales orders, the changes are shown.
In the menu of the material master, you can call the new material. The MRP data shows the assignment to the configurable material. If you choose Variant, you see the characteristic values that are copied from the configuration of the order BOM. You can maintain further data in the material master record of the material variant.
See also: