Processing Serial Numbers

A serial number is a character-string that is assigned to an item of a material within a series. It is used to differentiate each item from all other items. A combination of a product number and a serial number is unique.

In SAP EWM, a serial number can be up to 30 characters in length. To remain compatible with SAP ERP, the serial number length must be restricted to 18 characters. A BAdI is available to map the longer SAP EWM serial numbers to the ERP serial numbers, if this is required.

A serial number profile is a four-character code that is created in customizing. It determines the conditions and business transactions for issuing serial numbers to serialized products. You must assign a serial number profile to the product master records of the products that require serial numbers.

There are two different serial number profiles that are maintained and assigned to the material master data in SAP ERP. They are:

• The Logistics Execution (LE) serial number profile that is maintained in the material master data view Sales: General/Plant.

  This serial number profile is only relevant for SAP ERP, and is defined to use serial numbers in delivery documents.

• The serial number maintained in the view WM Execution.

  This serial number profile is relevant for using serial numbers in SAP EWM.

From SAP S/4HANA 2020 onward, you can set up Harmonized Serial Number Profiles. This enables you to maintain the SAP ERP and the SAP EWM serial number settings in one Logistics Execution (LE) serial number profile. This harmonization can be used for embedded EWM as well as for decentralized EWM.

SAP EWM copies the serial numbers from the SAP ERP system in both the goods receipt and the goods issue processes.

Goods receipt processes:

• In the goods receipt process, SAP EWM copies the serial numbers from the SAP ERP inbound delivery into the inbound delivery.

  • A prerequisite for this is that you have determined the serialization for the product in the serial number profile. Otherwise, SAP EWM does not copy any serial numbers to the inbound delivery.

  • You can make changes to copied serial numbers in the user interface of the inbound delivery up until the goods receipt posting.

• If no serial numbers have been specified in the SAP ERP inbound delivery, then you must specify the serial number before the goods receipt posting, in accordance with the serial number profile in SAP EWM.

Goods issue processes:

• In the goods issue process, SAP EWM copies the serial numbers from the SAP ERP outbound delivery into the outbound delivery order.
  • A prerequisite for this is that you have determined the serialization for the product in the serial number profile. In other cases, SAP EWM does not copy any serial numbers into the outbound delivery order.
  • Unlike with the goods receipt process, you cannot make changes to copied serial numbers in the goods issue process.
• If no serial numbers have been specified in the SAP ERP outbound delivery, you must specify the serial number before the goods issue posting, in accordance with the serial number profile in SAP EWM.
  • For items with Serial Number Requirement for Document Items or Serial Number Requirement at Warehouse Number Level the serial numbers can be entered during the confirmation of the warehouse task or in the outbound delivery order.
  • For items with Serial Number Requirement in Inventory Management the serial numbers have to be entered during the confirmation of the warehouse task and are copied into the outbound delivery order.

In general, serial numbers are entered before the goods receipt is posted. As this is not always desired or practicable, you can configure the system to use provisional serial numbers. Provisional serial numbers begin with a $ and have 30 characters. When posting the goods receipt, the provisional serial number is assigned. In the deconsolidation work center you must replace the provisional serial number with a final serial number.

• A serial number is a unique character string assigned to individual items for differentiation. In SAP EWM, serial numbers can be up to 30 characters, but must be restricted to 18 for compatibility with SAP ERP.
• Serial Number Profiles are four-character codes used to determine the conditions serial numbers handling on SAP ERP and SAP EWM side. From SAP S/4HANA 2020 onward, harmonized serial number profiles can be used to maintain both ERP and EWM settings in one profile.
• There are four options for serial number requirements: A (for document item), B (on warehouse number level), C (on stock level), and D (no serialization requirement).