serial number assignment in sap

• SAP Training Blog ›

SAP Serial Number Functionality and Configuration

by Ashikul Alam

In one of my SAP implementation projects, the client required a unique identification number for an electronic device that it produces to implement proper tracking for the device's warranty. Depending on the business requirements, these numbers can be implemented at any stage of material flow. This blog is all about the key functionalities and step by step SAP serial number configuration.

Setting up Serial number profile (Tcode OIS2)

In SAP, serialization can be used at different stages of material flow ( inbound , outbound, internal movements, etc.). The serial number has significant use in equipment numbers in SAP Plant Maintenance as well. A Serial Profile is a key that holds this information, and the system acts according to the set up that we configure in the serial profile.

Fig 1: Define Serial Number Profile

Fig 2: Serializing Procedure

In the serializing procedure (Fig 2), we can see the options whether the serial procedure is relevant to  Production Planning  (PP),  Quality Management  (QM),  Material Management  (MM),  Sales and Distribution  (SD), or  Plant Maintenance  (PM) equipment master records. Depending on the business requirement, the required procedures are set in a profile.

This is the main configuration for setting up serialization in SAP. Below we'll see how this serial profile is maintained and used in the transaction.

Serial Profile Maintenance at Material Master

As described, serialization can be used for different stages of a material movement. It is also used in various other SAP modules, so a serial profile needs to be set at the right material number. Once the serial profile configuration is completed, we need to set it in relevant raw material, finish goods or spare parts, etc.

When we set the configured serial profile at a specific material, the system considers this material master record linked with the serialization procedure. Hence, the system will create serial numbers for the materials in relevant SAP transactions.

Fig 3: Serial Profile in Material Master

For example, the above serialization procedure in Fig. 3 is for Production Planning (PP), and the finish goods material master is maintained accordingly. We'll see the generated numbers for the production order in the next steps.

Serial Number generation in Production Order

Based on the configuration in the serial profile, the number can be generated during Production Order creation or release. In the example below, we can see the number is assigned for the material that we maintained with a serial number profile.

As the PO quantity was 10, the system generated serial numbers 1 to 10, that means one number for a piece of finished goods. If I create the next Production Order for this material, the system will start from number 11; thus, a unique number will be assigned for a material.

Fig 4: Serial number generation in Production Order

Once the number is generated, we need to perform the subsequent transactions with these numbers accordingly. For example, when we'll perform a goods receipt for this PO, we need to complete it with the number. In the ideal case, the GR should be in the warehouse area with an RF gun. So, physically whatever serial number has arrived at the warehouse for a PO, the barcode should be scanned, and the relevant transactions should be completed.

Fig 5: Production Order GR with Serial Number

Serial Number History

A serial number can be checked at any point in time for checking the relevant information. We use SAP transaction code IQ09 to display a number. For example, let's review the numbers that we generated in previous steps:

Fig 6: Serial Number display in IQ09 transaction

Fig 7: Number History

Fig 8: Number Warranty Tab

Serial Number Logic

Some organizations might have a requirement to implement some specific logic or naming conventions to determine serial numbers. In SAP, the particular logic can be implemented using BAdI.

To summarize, a serial number helps a business to track certain details for specific material. However, keep in mind that it is essential to align the physical process accordingly, as transactions need to be performed with those serial numbers. 

More Blogs by Ashikul Alam

SAP Batch Management Functionality and Configuration

My Batch number was ‘07C’ when I was in college. There wer...

by Ashikul Alam

February 16, 2021

Posted in  SAP

What Are The Main SAP Modules?

One of the very first questions you'll hear from a client is, ...

January 15, 2021

SAP Purchase Order (PO) Release Strategy Configuration

When we spend the company's money, we require the necessary approv...

October 28, 2020

Related Blogs

Top 5 SAP Buzzwords You Need to Know

Every industry comes with its own set of jargon, and the technology in...

10 New SAP Skills You Can Learn on Michael Management...

School is back in session for students worldwide, and there's neve...

What is Group Reporting in SAP S/4HANA?

SAP Group Reporting is the new consolidation solution for SAP on the S/4HANA...

We offer thousands of SAP courses and real-world SAP sandboxes for individuals and corporate teams.

Support: [email protected]

Sales: [email protected]

+1 (415) 360-6249

• Success Stories
• Become an Affiliate
• Become an Instructor
• Scholarships
• Search Entire Website
• SAP Transaction Codes
• SAP Error Messages
• Authenticate Certificate

Have Questions?

Get In Touch.

Training License Required

Using Equipment and Serial Numbers

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Explain concept of Equipment and Serial Numbers
• Display an equipment
• Display a serial number

Equipment and Serial Numbers

Individual objects that can be a part of bigger technical structures and for which a separate maintenance history must be constructed, are mapped by using equipment.

A piece of equipment is an individual physical object that you would maintain as an autonomous unit. Pieces of equipment usually represent single objects such as pumps, motors, and vehicles for which maintenance tasks are to be performed and recorded.

A piece of equipment can be installed at functional locations. A piece of equipment can be linked to a material if there is a need for inventory management.

Criteria for Creation of Equipment Creation

You always create an equipment master record for a technical object under the following conditions:

You need to manage individual data for the object.

When breakdown, planned, or preventive maintenance tasks are required for an object, you need to record the maintenance tasks.

You need to collect and evaluate technical data for the object over long periods of time.

You need to monitor the costs of maintenance tasks for the object.

You need to record the usage time of the object at functional locations.

Equipment Master Record

In the standard system, the master record for a piece of equipment uses the following views:

General: Class, object type, reference data, manufacturer data, and so on

Location: Location data and address

Organization: Account assignment (for example, company code, cost center) and responsible entities (for example, maintenance planning plant)

Structure: Higher-level functional location, superior equipment, and so on

Equipment and Serial Number

A piece of equipment with its equipment number can only be used in Asset Management and Customer Service.

The equipment number cannot be handled in other areas.

If you want to put a piece of equipment on stock – for example because it is defective and you want to refurbish it - you first have to assign a serial number.

A serial number is an individual, single part within a stock of a material number - and therefore can well be combined with a piece of equipment.

With the combination of an equipment and a serial number you can handle an individual, physical part not only in Asset Management and Customer Service but also in Materials Management and other areas.

A piece of equipment can be installed and dismantled at functional locations. You can also monitor the installation times for a piece of equipment from both the functional location view and the equipment view.

In the case of a piece of equipment that is linked to a material, when you dismantle the damaged piece of equipment, the system can automatically place it in storage. Likewise, when a piece of equipment is installed, the system automatically releases it from store inventory.

To install a piece of equipment at a functional location, the following prerequisites must be fulfilled:

The equipment category must permit an installation.

The Equipment Installation Allowed option must be activated in the master record for the functional location. You can further control this by using the Individual Installation option.

The installation locations for equipment in a technical system are documented in the usage list. The usage list forms part of the equipment history.

Equipment usage periods can also be displayed from the functional location view.

Along with changes to the installation location, the usage list also documents changes to other fields of the master record (for example, cost center and asset).

How to Display Equipment and Serial Number

Sap gui transactions.

As an alternative to working in SAP Fiori Launchpad you can use the following transactions.

For the On Premise edition they are available via SAP GUI for Windows.

In addition, every transaction also has a SAP GUI for HTML version.

Transactions for Equipment and Serial Numbers:

• IE01, IE02, IE03 - Create, Change, Display Equipment
• IE05, IH08 - List Editing Change, Display Equipment
• IH03 - Structural Display
• IQ01, IQ02, IQ03 - Create, Change, Display Serial Number
• IQ08, IQ09 - List Editing Change, Display Serial Number

Log in to track your progress & complete quizzes

Blog about all things SAP

ERProof » SAP PM » SAP PM Training » SAP Serial Numbers

SAP Serial Numbers

SAP serial numbers functionality helps managing serialized stock. It is mainly focused on tracking of inventory. Serial number is the number which is assigned apart from the material number in SAP MM in order to differentiate between individual pieces and other material items. The combination of a material number and a serial number is always unique. The SAP serial numbers are used in following areas:

• Inventory Management
• Sales Order
• Plant Maintenance
• Production Planning

Serializing a piece of equipment enables the equipment to be managed from inventory prospective. When a serial number is assigned to equipment, the equipment is linked with a material and serial number meaning that you can use material serial number to manage the equipment from plant maintenance perspective.

To serialize the equipment, a serial number profile must be configured in customization of plant maintenance.

Define SAP Serial Number Profile

SAP serial number profile is a 4-digits number under which defines the conditions of operation for the assignment of serial numbers to equipment. It is configured in the following menu node of SPRO transaction:

Plant Maintenance and Customer Service > Master Data in Plant Maintenance and Customer Service > Technical Objects > Serial Number Management > Define Serial Number Profiles

In SAP serial number profile, you define 4-digits profile number with a corresponding description. Also, there are the following parameters:

• Serial Number Existence Requirement Indicator: This indicator determines serial number entered for transaction needs to be created first as master record. If you set this indicator, then the serial number must be created as a master record first in the system. If not, then the serial number directly can be created during business transaction.
• Equipment Category: Equipment category according to their use. The equipment category which the system should propose for the automatic assignment of serial numbers in the case of equipment master records.
• Stock Check for Serial Numbers: This indicator determines if stock check during serial number assignment needs to be performed or not.

Assign SAP Serial Number Profile to Material Master Record

SAP serial number profile has to be assigned to each material master to be serialized. You can assign separate serial number profile to material for each plant because assignment of SAP serial numbers profiles to materials is done at the plant level in material master record.

Navigate to the following path in SAP Easy Access menu or start the transaction MM02 directly:

Logistics > Material Management > Material Master > Material > change > Immediately MM02

The following screen will appear where you enter MM02 transaction. Enter the material number and click Select Views button.

Choose Plant data/storage 2 and press Enter .

On change material screen, enter the serial number profile which you have configured in the customization.

Click on Save and SAP serial number profile will be assigned to the material master record.

Create SAP Serial Numbers

SAP serial numbers can be created with a length of 18 characters and support both numeric and alphabetical characters. Serial numbers can be created manually or automatically. Serial number master record can be created prior to the business transaction. If need to create an individual serial number, you can use the transaction IQ01 and if you need to create several SAP serial numbers together use IQ04 transaction.

The following information is contained in SAP serial number master:

• Status information: System status provides you with the information about the current status of SAP serial number. You can also configure a custom status as user status for more information and control over SAP serial numbers.
• Stock information: It provides the information about plant and storage location of material/equipment.
• Serial number history: It provides the past information about serial number master.

To create SAP serial number, follow these steps. Navigate to the following node in SAP Easy Access menu:

Logistics > Plant Maintenance > Management of technical objects > Serial Numbers > IQ01 – Create

On the initial screen of IQ01 transaction, enter following details:

Press Enter to continue.

You can enter SAP serial number specific data and click on Equipment view to create an equipment view.

Enter the data related to the equipment and click on Save icon. SAP serial number including the equipment view will be created.

The created equipment view can be also changed and displayed. Start the following transaction in SAP Easy Access menu:

Logistics > Plant Maintenance > Maintenance of technical object > Equipment > IE02 – Change

The following screen will appear.

Click F4 and from the selection of input help option select Equipment by serial number list .

The following screen will appear where you need to enter details like material and serial number in the input fields.

Press Execute button the equipment number will found and populated in the corresponding field as shown below.

Press Enter to change the equipment master record.

If you navigate to Serial Data tab, you can view SAP serial number of this equipment.

Did you like this tutorial? Have any questions or comments? We would love to hear your feedback in the comments section below. It’d be a big help for us, and hopefully it’s something we can address for you in improvement of our free SAP PM tutorials.

Navigation Links

Go to next lesson:  SAP Breakdown Maintenance Process

Go to previous lesson:  SAP PM Bills of Material

Go to overview of the course: SAP PM Training

15 thoughts on “SAP Serial Numbers”

dear sir Myself Yuvaraj this site is good for learning but if u add video lectures to this it will be very good so i can relate the steps u said above. plzz kindly add the videos for better understanding.

from where i can check my product serial number which i already assign in material ,

IQ03 or IQ09 transactions

Good tutorial! Is a material type can be restricted to a serial number profil? Ex: Material Type UNBW restricted to profil 0003 – Stock Check? Thanks!

passando da IQ09 accedo ad IQ03 .Da IQ03 si può aanche passare in modifica, come posso inibire questa possibilità?

from IQ09 I access IQ03. From IQ03 it is also possible to change it, how can I inhibit this possibility?

Do you have any process as how to do the stock management with serial numbers?

thank you very much. Every step was very clear.

Can I use a serial number with equipment in sales order ?

Wowww this site is incerdible 🙂

Hello Friends .Can someone suggest that how can upload bulk serial no without using Iq02. Or any other t code which i can use for manufacturing serial no after do the GRN.

How to update the serial no. in Objects tab..IW32 screen. Existing line item (equipment no.) is non-editable mode. How to do it? There were no serial data updated in IE02 screen. Material and Serial number updated in IQ01. Kindy advise.

Very nice document one more question, how to add more serial numbers into same material and equipment?

Very good content.. there should be a discussion forum also

Thanks for this amazing doc. Just wondering in the refurb order, where do i see the serial number? Is it the object tab in th eheader?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Do you have a question and want it to be answered ASAP? Post it on our FORUM here --> SAP FORUM !

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Knowledge Base

SAP Serial Numbers

• Created 2022-01-10
• Author SAP Online Tutorials
• Category SAP PM

Welcome to the next tutorial of SAP PM course! In this tutorial, you will learn about  SAP Serial Numbers  and their use for serializing equipment in plant maintenance. We will show how to create serial number profile, assign it in a material master record, and create a new serial number attached to equipment.

SAP serial numbers functionality helps managing serialized stock. It is mainly focused on tracking of inventory. Serial number is the number which is assigned apart from the material number in SAP MM in order to differentiate between individual pieces and other material items. The combination of a material number and a serial number is always unique. The SAP serial numbers are used in following areas:

• Inventory Management
• Sales Order
• Plant Maintenance
• Production Planning

Serializing a piece of equipment enables the equipment to be managed from inventory prospective. When a serial number is assigned to equipment, the equipment is linked with a material and serial number meaning that you can use material serial number to manage the equipment from plant maintenance perspective.

To serialize the equipment, a serial number profile must be configured in customization of plant maintenance.

Define SAP Serial Number Profile

SAP serial number profile is a 4-digits number under which defines the conditions of operation for the assignment of serial numbers to equipment. It is configured in the following menu node of  SPRO  transaction:

Plant Maintenance and Customer Service > Master Data in Plant Maintenance and Customer Service > Technical Objects > Serial Number Management > Define Serial Number Profiles

In SAP serial number profile, you define 4-digits profile number with a corresponding description. Also, there are the following parameters:

• Serial Number Existence Requirement Indicator: This indicator determines serial number entered for transaction needs to be created first as master record. If you set this indicator, then the serial number must be created as a master record first in the system. If not, then the serial number directly can be created during business transaction.
• Equipment Category: Equipment category according to their use. The equipment category which the system should propose for the automatic assignment of serial numbers in the case of equipment master records.
• Stock Check for Serial Numbers: This indicator determines if stock check during serial number assignment needs to be performed or not.

Assign SAP Serial Number Profile to Material Master Record

SAP serial number profile has to be assigned to each material master to be serialized. You can assign separate serial number profile to material for each plant because assignment of SAP serial numbers profiles to materials is done at the plant level in material master record.

Navigate to the following path in SAP Easy Access menu or start the transaction  MM02  directly:

Logistics > Material Management > Material Master > Material > change > Immediately MM02

The following screen will appear where you enter MM02 transaction. Enter the material number and click  Select Views  button.

Choose  Plant data/storage 2  and press  Enter .

On change material screen, enter the serial number profile which you have configured in the customization.

Click on  Save  and SAP serial number profile will be assigned to the material master record.

Create SAP Serial Numbers

SAP serial numbers can be created with a length of 18 characters and support both numeric and alphabetical characters. Serial numbers can be created manually or automatically. Serial number master record can be created prior to the business transaction. If need to create an individual serial number, you can use the transaction  IQ01  and if you need to create several SAP serial numbers together use  IQ04  transaction.

The following information is contained in SAP serial number master:

• Status information: System status provides you with the information about the current status of SAP serial number. You can also configure a custom status as user status for more information and control over SAP serial numbers.
• Stock information: It provides the information about plant and storage location of material/equipment.
• Serial number history: It provides the past information about serial number master.

To create SAP serial number, follow these steps. Navigate to the following node in SAP Easy Access menu:

Logistics > Plant Maintenance > Management of technical objects > Serial Numbers > IQ01 – Create

On the initial screen of  IQ01  transaction, enter following details:

Press  Enter  to continue.

You can enter SAP serial number specific data and click on  Equipment view  to create an equipment view.

Enter the data related to the equipment and click on  Save  icon. SAP serial number including the equipment view will be created.

The created equipment view can be also changed and displayed. Start the following transaction in SAP Easy Access menu:

Logistics > Plant Maintenance > Maintenance of technical object > Equipment > IE02 – Change

The following screen will appear.

Click  F4  and from the selection of input help option select  Equipment by serial number list .

The following screen will appear where you need to enter details like material and serial number in the input fields.

Press  Execute  button the equipment number will found and populated in the corresponding field as shown below.

Press  Enter  to change the equipment master record.

If you navigate to  Serial Data  tab, you can view SAP serial number of this equipment.

Was this article helpful?

Related articles, leave a comment cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.