How To Fix LC228 - Purchasing group can only be specified for plant

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: LC - Logistics Controlling

• Message number: 228

• Message text: Purchasing group can only be specified for plant

What causes this issue?

The purchasing group is managed at plant level. A purchasing or sales
organization may include several purchasing groups. It is therefore not
possible to allocate one purchasing group to every one material. The
same applies to analyses that cumulate values per material across all
plants.

System Response

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

How to fix this error?

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message LC228 - Purchasing group can only be specified for plant ?

  The SAP error message LC228 ("Purchasing group can only be specified for plant") typically occurs when there is an attempt to assign a purchasing group to a material or a purchasing document without a corresponding plant being specified. This error is related to the configuration and data entry in the SAP system, particularly in the Materials Management (MM) module.
  Cause:
  
  Missing Plant Assignment: The purchasing group is linked to a specific plant in SAP. If you try to assign a purchasing group without specifying a plant, the system will throw this error.
  Incorrect Data Entry: The purchasing group may have been entered in a context where a plant is required, but the plant field is either blank or incorrectly filled.
  Configuration Issues: There may be issues in the configuration of the purchasing organization or group in relation to the plants.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Specify a Plant: Ensure that you have specified a valid plant in the relevant transaction or document where you are trying to assign the purchasing group. This is typically done in the material master, purchase order, or purchase requisition.
  
  
  Check Configuration: Verify the configuration settings for the purchasing group and ensure that it is correctly assigned to the relevant plants in the system. This can be done in the SPRO transaction under:
  
  Materials Management > Purchasing > Define Purchasing Groups.
  
  
  
  Review Document Type: If you are working with a specific document type (like a purchase order), ensure that the document type is correctly configured to allow for the assignment of purchasing groups.
  
  
  Data Validation: Double-check the data you are entering for any typos or incorrect entries that might lead to this error.
  
  
  User Authorization: Ensure that the user has the necessary authorizations to create or modify the purchasing documents with the specified purchasing group and plant.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Common transaction codes related to purchasing include ME21N (Create Purchase Order), ME51N (Create Purchase Requisition), and MM02 (Change Material).
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that might address specific issues or bugs related to this error message.
  Documentation: Refer to SAP Help documentation for detailed information on purchasing groups and their relationship with plants.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the LC228 error and successfully assign a purchasing group to the relevant purchasing documents in SAP.