Performing Stock Transfers Between Storage Locations

A stock transfer or transfer posting consists of a goods issue from the issuing point and a goods receipt at the receiving point. For all transfer postings and stock transfers, the goods issue and goods receipt can be posted together in one entry step.

For some stock transfers, you have the additional option of entering the GI and GR in two separate steps and, therefore, in two separate postings. In the case of storage location-to-storage location and plant-to-plant stock transfers, a distinction is made between the one-step procedure and the two-step procedure.

The one-step procedure has the advantage that you have to enter only a single transaction in the system. However, the two-step procedure enables you to monitor stocks that you are in the process of transferring from one place to another. Once you have posted the GI from the issuing point, the stock is regarded as in transfer at the receiving point and is treated as such in the system.

A stock transfer from one storage location to another is carried out within a plant. You can post a storage location-to-storage location stock transfer using the one-step procedure for all stock types.

The material document items generated during the one-step procedure are as follows:

• One item for the removal of the material from storage (GI) at the issuing storage location
• One item for the placement of the material in storage (GR) at the receiving storage location

No accounting document is generated for a stock transfer from storage location to storage location, because both the material and the plant (and therefore the valuation area) remain the same.

Using the two-step procedure, you can transfer material only from unrestricted-use stock at the issuing location to unrestricted-use stock at the receiving storage location. After the stock removal posting, the quantity is booked out of the issuing storage location. At the receiving storage location, the quantity is already included in the stock for that location, not as unrestricted-use stock, but as a stock in transfer. When the goods are put away at the receiving storage location, the quantity is transferred from stock in transfer to unrestricted-use stock.

The system generates two material documents in the course of a stock transfer from storage location-to-storage location using the two-step procedure.

• One material document with two items for stock removal with movement type 313: One item for the GI from the issuing storage location, and one item for the receipt in stock in transfer at the receiving storage location.
• One material document with one item for putaway with movement type 315: One item for putaway in the receiving storage location.

Valuation does not take place in the case of the two-step procedure.

• A stock transfer includes both a goods issue from the sending location and a goods receipt at the receiving location.
• The one-step procedure posts issue and receipt together, and is best used for nearby locations with no need to track transfer time.
• The two-step procedure posts issue and receipt separately, allowing you to monitor stock in transit between locations.
• No valuation or accounting document is generated for storage location-to-storage location transfers within the same plant.