How To Fix M3531 - You are changing material group, but material already used by purchasing

M3531 - Overview

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: M3 - Material Master

• Message number: 531

• Message text: You are changing material group, but material already used by purchasing

How to fix this error?

When changing the material group of a material that is already being
used by the purchasing department, you should note that:
The purchasing statistics show how much of a material group has already
been ordered. Unitl the change is made, the material is managed under
the old material group and therefore the old material group statistics
are updated. From the moment the change is made, the new material
group's statistics are updated.
Some purchase orders may derive from contracts with item categories
referring to material groups. If this is the case, the material cannot
be used after the change has been made.
Every purchase requisition is allocated to a release strategy that can
depend on the material group. A new release strategy may apply to a new
material group. Purchase requisitions that were created before the
change are subject to the old strategy; purchase requisitions that were
created after the change are subject to the new strategy.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

M3531 - Details

• The SAP error message M3531 indicates that you are attempting to change the material group of a material that has already been used in purchasing documents. This restriction is in place to maintain data integrity and consistency in the purchasing process.
  
  Cause:
  The error occurs because the material group is a key attribute that can affect various aspects of the material's management, including pricing, procurement, and reporting. If a material has already been referenced in purchasing documents (like purchase orders, contracts, etc.), changing its material group could lead to inconsistencies in the data and processes that rely on that information.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you have a few options:
  
  
  Check Usage: First, check if the material is indeed used in any purchasing documents. You can do this by reviewing purchase orders, contracts, or any other relevant documents in the system.
  
  
  Change Material Group in a Different Way:
  
  If the material group needs to be changed, consider