How To Fix IM278 - The operation is not permissible for material no. &1 and serial no. &2

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: IM - Maintenance notifications

• Message number: 278

• Message text: The operation is not permissible for material no. &1 and serial no. &2

Self-Explanatory Message

Since SAP believes that this specific error message is 'self-explanatory,' no more information has been given.The majority of messages in the SAP system have a message text, however this is frequently insufficient to comprehend or resolve the problem.

To make things easier, more detailed information is frequently added to describe the issue, how to fix it, and the necessary steps or configuration modifications.

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message IM278 - The operation is not permissible for material no. &1 and serial no. &2 ?

  The SAP error message IM278 ("The operation is not permissible for material no. &1 and serial no. &2") typically occurs in the context of Inventory Management or Materials Management when a user attempts to perform an operation that is not allowed for a specific material or serial number. This can happen in various scenarios, such as during goods movements, stock transfers, or inventory adjustments.
  Causes:
  
  Material Status: The material may have a status that restricts certain operations (e.g., blocked, restricted, or in a quality inspection).
  Serial Number Issues: The serial number may not be valid for the operation being attempted, or it may not be assigned to the material.
  Stock Type: The stock type of the material (e.g., unrestricted, quality inspection, blocked) may not allow the operation.
  Document Type Restrictions: Certain document types may have restrictions on the operations that can be performed.
  Configuration Settings: Custom settings in the system may restrict operations based on business rules or configurations.
  
  Solutions:
  
  Check Material Status: Verify the status of the material in the material master. If it is blocked or restricted, you may need to change its status.
  Validate Serial Number: Ensure that the serial number is correctly assigned to the material and is valid for the operation you are trying to perform.
  Review Stock Type: Check the stock type of the material. If it is in quality inspection or blocked stock, you may need to move it to unrestricted stock before proceeding.
  Consult Documentation: Review the documentation for the specific transaction you are trying to execute to ensure that it is permissible for the material and serial number in question.
  Check Configuration: If you have access, review the configuration settings in the system to see if there are any specific rules that are preventing the operation.
  Contact Support: If you are unable to resolve the issue, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting with a functional expert who can provide further assistance.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as MIGO (Goods Movement), MB1A (Goods Withdrawal), or MB1B (Transfer Posting) that may be involved in the operation.
  Material Master Data: Review the material master data for any inconsistencies or issues that may be causing the error.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message.
  User Authorizations: Ensure that you have the necessary authorizations to perform the operation on the specified material and serial number.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the IM278 error and take appropriate action to resolve it.