How To Fix MG168 - The material cannot be maintained for the maintenance statuses specified

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: MG - Batch input: material master

• Message number: 168

• Message text: The material cannot be maintained for the maintenance statuses specified

What causes this issue?

You wanted to maintain an existing material master record as follows:
By changing it
However, you have not yet maintained the material master record for the
<DS:GLOS.organizational_level>organizational levels</> and data fields
specified, or <DS:GLOS.user_department>user departments</> selected.
You can therefore process this data only in <LS>Create</> mode.
By extending it
However, you have already fully created the material master record for
the organizational levels and data fields specified, or user
departments selected. You can therefore process this data only in
<LS>Change</> mode.

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?

Maintain the material master record in <LS>Create</> or <LS>Change</>
mode as required.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message MG168 - The material cannot be maintained for the maintenance statuses specified ?

  The SAP error message MG168, which states "The material cannot be maintained for the maintenance statuses specified," typically occurs when you attempt to perform an action on a material that is restricted due to its maintenance status. This can happen in various transactions related to material master data, such as creating, changing, or displaying material records.
  Cause:
  The error is usually caused by one of the following reasons:
  
  Maintenance Status: The material has a maintenance status that restricts certain actions. This could be due to the material being marked as obsolete, blocked, or in a status that does not allow changes.
  User Authorizations: The user may not have the necessary authorizations to perform actions on materials with specific maintenance statuses.
  Material Type Settings: The configuration of the material type may impose restrictions based on the maintenance status.
  Status Management: The material may be in a status that is not allowed for the operation you are trying to perform (e.g., a material that is flagged for deletion).
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check Maintenance Status:
  
  Go to the material master record and check the maintenance status of the material. You can do this using transaction code MM03 (Display Material).
  If the material is in a status that restricts maintenance, you may need to change its status.
  
  
  
  Change Material Status:
  
  If you have the necessary authorizations, you can change the maintenance status of the material using transaction code MM02 (Change Material).
  Ensure that the material is not marked for deletion or blocked.
  
  
  
  Review User Authorizations:
  
  Check if your user role has the necessary authorizations to maintain materials with the specified maintenance statuses. You may need to contact your SAP security team to adjust your authorizations.
  
  
  
  Consult Configuration:
  
  If you have access to configuration settings, review the material type settings in the IMG (Implementation Guide) to ensure that the maintenance statuses are correctly configured.
  
  
  
  Contact Support:
  
  If you are unable to resolve the issue, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting the SAP Help Portal for further assistance.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: 
  
  MM01 - Create Material
  MM02 - Change Material
  MM03 - Display Material
  
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error or provide additional troubleshooting steps.
  Documentation: Review the SAP documentation related to material master data management for more insights into maintenance statuses and their implications.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the error and take appropriate action to resolve it.