Lesson 5 of 6
Serial numbers
10 min
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A serial number identifies one unit of a material, so its history can be followed from production to the customer and back. In SAP S/4HANA, serial numbers are controlled by a serial number profile assigned to the material per plant. The profile says in which business transactions serial numbers are used, whether they are optional, mandatory or automatic, and whether an equipment master record is created for each serial number. Contoso serializes CMC-ALT-100 so that warranty claims, field service and recalls can name exact units.
The serial number profile
| Procedure | Business transaction | Contoso setting (illustrative) |
|---|---|---|
| PPAU | Serial numbers in the production order | Optional |
| PPRL | Production order release | Automatic assignment of serial numbers at release |
| MMSL | Goods receipts and goods issues (inventory management) | Mandatory |
| SDAU | Serial numbers in the sales order | Optional |
| SDLS | Serial numbers in the delivery | Mandatory |
| QMSL | Serial numbers in the inspection lot | Optional |
Serialization procedures in Contoso's profile ZCMC (illustrative). The profile is configured in OIS2 and assigned in the material master per plant.
For each procedure, the serial number usage decides whether no serial numbers are assigned, serial numbers can be assigned (optional), must be assigned (obligatory) or are assigned automatically. The equipment requirement decides whether an equipment master record is created for each serial number, which matters because equipment records hold installation history and are what service documents reference (see sap-sd-305). Contoso creates equipment for every serialized alternator so that service can refer to the unit in a Great Lakes truck. Some combinations of usage values are not allowed for certain procedures; check the documentation for your release before designing.
Serial number status and history
Each serial number carries a system status that reflects where the unit is, for example in stock (ESTO) or delivered (EDEL), and a history of the documents it appeared in: production order, material documents, delivery, returns and service orders. The history is read in the serial number display (IQ03) or the equipment display, and lists of serial numbers can be shown with IQ09. This history is what lets Contoso answer "which alternators did Great Lakes receive, and from which production orders?" in seconds.
Serial numbers in the warehouse
At Contoso, alternators are received from production into 171B at IM level and then put away into 171A, which is managed in embedded EWM (warehouse number 1710). Serial numbers must survive that hand-over and be captured or confirmed during picking for deliveries from 171A. EWM has its own serial number settings for products and warehouse processes. Agree with Marcus where serial numbers are captured (at goods receipt only, or scanned again at picking) and test the full path, because a serial captured at production but lost at putaway breaks the trace at the last step.
Returns and repairs
Serial numbers earn their keep when units come back. A Great Lakes return of a failed alternator must be received with its serial number, so the unit's history shows the return and any repair. If the unit is repaired and shipped again, the same serial continues its history; if it is scrapped, the history ends there. Returns are where serial discipline usually fails, because the receiving clerk is under pressure and the unit may be dirty or damaged. Make the serial mandatory in the return receipt and test a return of a unit whose serial does not match any delivery to that customer.
What goes wrong in testing
| Symptom | Real cause | Lesson |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery posts without serial numbers | SDLS set to optional instead of mandatory | Test the goods issue without serials; it must fail |
| Duplicate serial numbers in stock | External serials entered by hand without a stock check | Test entering a serial that already exists |
| Serial history stops at putaway | EWM process does not carry or capture serials | Follow one serial from order to customer |
| No equipment for service | Equipment requirement not set in the profile | Check that equipment exists after goods receipt |
Typical serial number test failures.
What would you do?
In CMQ, a delivery of 50 serialized alternators to Great Lakes is posted, but serial history shows only 48 serials linked to the delivery. Warehouse staff say "two units were scanned late." What should the test conclude?
- A serial number profile (OIS2) controls serialization per business transaction and plant.
- Procedures such as PPAU, PPRL, MMSL, SDAU, SDLS and QMSL each have a usage: none, optional, obligatory or automatic.
- The equipment requirement creates equipment records that service documents can reference.
- Follow one serial through production, warehouse, delivery and returns to prove the trace.
Check your understanding · not graded
Lesson check
1. Where is the serial number profile configured?
2. Which procedure controls serial numbers in the outbound delivery?
3. What does the equipment requirement in the profile decide?
4. Which display shows the history of documents for one serial number?