Lesson 2 of 6
Movement types and reversals
10 min
Every goods movement has a three-digit movement type. It tells SAP what kind of movement this is, which fields are required, which stock is changed, and which accounts are posted. Learning the common ones is like learning the main road signs: you will meet them every day.
| Movement type | What it does | Contoso example |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | Goods receipt for a purchase order (or production order) | 500 rotors from Lakeside into 171A |
| 103 / 105 | Receipt into GR blocked stock / release from GR blocked stock | Receipt pending acceptance, then accepted |
| 122 | Return delivery to supplier | 30 faulty rotors sent back to Lakeside |
| 201 | Goods issue to a cost center | Rotors used for a test bench on the engineering cost center |
| 261 | Goods issue to a production order | Rotors consumed building CMC-ALT-100 |
| 301 | Transfer plant to plant in one step | Alternators from 1710 Detroit to 1720 Chicago |
| 311 | Transfer storage location to storage location in one step | Rotors from 171A to 171B |
| 321 | Quality inspection to unrestricted use | Inspected rotors released |
| 343 / 344 | Blocked to unrestricted / unrestricted to blocked | Damaged alternators blocked, later released |
| 551 | Scrapping from unrestricted use | 10 damaged rotors scrapped |
| 561 | Initial entry of stock balances | Loading stock at data migration |
| 601 | Goods issue for an outbound delivery | Alternators shipped to Great Lakes Fleet Services |
| 701 / 702 | Inventory differences (gain / loss) from physical inventory | Count difference posted after the stock count |
Common movement types. Your system may add custom ones.
Reversal movement types
For most movement types, the reversal is the next number: 102 reverses 101, 202 reverses 201, 262 reverses 261, 312 reverses 311, 552 reverses 551. You rarely type the reversal movement type yourself. In MIGO you choose Cancellation, enter the material document to reverse, and SAP posts the reversal with the right movement type and a new material document that references the original.
- MistakeClerk posted 500 rotors against the wrong PO item
- CancelMIGO → Cancellation → material document 5000000210
- Reversal postedMovement type 102; new material document; stock and GR/IR reversed
- Correct postingNew 101 receipt against the right PO item
- EvidenceBoth material documents and their journal entries; PO history shows receipt and reversal
Reversal or return delivery?
Two movements take a receipt back, and they mean different things. A reversal (102) says "this receipt should never have been posted" — a data entry error. A return delivery (122) says "we received the goods, and now we are sending them back," for example because they failed inspection. The return delivery records a reason, can print a return delivery note for the supplier and affects supplier evaluation and invoicing differently.
- Did the goods physically arrive?No → reverse the receipt (102) · Yes → next question
- Are the goods going back to the supplier?Yes → return delivery (122) with a reason · No → next question
- Are they being destroyed?Yes → scrap (551) · No → keep them and adjust stock type if needed (for example 344 to blocked)
What would you do?
Inspection finds that 30 of the 500 rotors received last week are defective. Lakeside will take them back and credit Contoso. Which movement fits?
Movement types are configured, and companies sometimes copy standard ones to add their own rules, for example a custom scrapping type that requires a reason code. If your system uses custom movement types, list them in the test plan with their standard equivalent, and test both the posting and its reversal. Also check that warehouse users can only post the movement types their role needs; a clerk who can post 561 initial entries in production can create stock out of nothing.
- Movement types define the kind of movement, the stock affected and the postings.
- Know the common ones: 101, 122, 201, 261, 301, 311, 321, 343/344, 551, 561, 601, 701/702.
- Reversals are usually the next number and are posted via MIGO cancellation.
- Use reversal for errors, return delivery for goods going back, scrapping for destruction.
Check your understanding · not graded
Lesson check
1. Which movement type reverses a goods receipt for a PO?
2. Which movement type issues stock to a cost center?
3. Which movement type returns goods to a supplier?
4. How do you usually post a reversal in MIGO?