Master Data in SAP

A warm welcome to the Master Data in SAP course by Uplatz.

Master Data is the data that is created centrally and is consistent & valid for all applications. It remains constant over time but it is to be updated on a regular basis. For e.g., Vendor is a type of master data that is used for creating purchase orders or contracts.

Master data in SAP is used as a base for any transaction. If you are producing, transferring stock, selling, purchasing, doing physical inventory, whatever your activity may be, it requires certain master data to be maintained.

SAP Master Data is of the following types −

1) Material Master Data

2) Customer Master Data

3) Vendor Master Data

4) Pricing/conditions Master Data

5) Warehouse management Master Data (storage bin master data)

Material master records contain the information of materials that an organization purchases, manufactures, or sells. Vendor master record contains the information about vendors – address, financial data, payment terms, purchasing data such as currency, order value. Purchase info record consists of detailed information about materials and vendors supplying the required materials. Source list is a type of master data that determines the preferred sources of supply for a material. In SAP, material master data refer to all the material master records, which are stored in SAP system. The material master is the central source of information for a material related to several application area (Purchasing, storage, accounting, sales, etc) based on material type. In SAP MM, material master data is maintained at plant level and accounting information is maintained at valuation area level. The valuation are at organization level at which material are valuated. The valuation are can be be a plant or a company code.

Master data in SAP is the core data of an enterprise that exists independently of specific business transactions and is referenced in business transactions. It builds the foundation for the smooth execution of business processes and well-informed business decisions. With reference to material management module, the business users in purchase department maintains the following material master data:

• Material master records

• Vendor master records

• Purchase info records

• Source list records

• Quota arrangement records

• Service master record

• Batch master record

• Condition record, etc.

There are important configuration steps in Material Master like defining Material Types, Number ranges, Field selection, Quantity and value update, etc.