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Message type: E = Error
Message class: M3 - Material Master
Message number: 540
Message text: No external procurement defined for this material
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.
Unfortunately, there isn't any extra information in this error notice.
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The SAP error message M3540 "No external procurement defined for this material" typically occurs when you attempt to create a purchase order or perform a related procurement activity for a material that is not set up for external procurement in the system. This means that the material is not configured to be sourced from external suppliers.
Cause:
- Material Master Configuration: The material in question may not have been set up with the appropriate purchasing views in the material master. Specifically, the purchasing organization or the procurement type may not be defined.
- Procurement Type: The procurement type for the material might be set to "in-house production" (e.g., 'E' for in-house production) instead of "external procurement" (e.g., 'F' for external procurement).
- Purchasing Info Record: There may not be a purchasing info record created for the material and vendor combination.
- Plant Assignment: The material may not be assigned to the relevant plant where external procurement is intended.
- Material Status: The material might be blocked for procurement due to its status settings.
Solution:
To resolve the error, you can take the following steps:
Check Material Master:
- Go to the material master record (transaction code
MM03
).- Check the purchasing view to ensure that the procurement type is set to allow external procurement (e.g., 'F').
- Ensure that the material is assigned to the correct plant.
Update Procurement Type:
- If the procurement type is incorrect, you can change it by using transaction code
MM02
to modify the material master record.Create Purchasing Info Record:
- If there is no purchasing info record, create one using transaction code
ME11
for the relevant vendor and material combination.Check Plant Assignment:
- Ensure that the material is assigned to the correct plant where you want to procure it externally.
Review Material Status:
- Check if the material is blocked for procurement. If it is, you may need to change its status.
Consult with Your SAP Team:
- If you are unsure about making changes, consult with your SAP MM (Materials Management) team or system administrator for assistance.
Related Information:
Transaction Codes:
MM03
: Display Material MasterMM02
: Change Material MasterME11
: Create Purchasing Info RecordME12
: Change Purchasing Info RecordME13
: Display Purchasing Info RecordDocumentation: Refer to SAP Help documentation for detailed information on material master data and procurement processes.
User Roles: Ensure that you have the necessary authorizations to make changes to the material master and procurement settings.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the M3540 error and successfully set up external procurement for the material in question.
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