How To Fix MH236 - The main EAN for supplier &, unit of measure &, material & is not unique

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: MH - Maintain Material Master Data (Retail)

• Message number: 236

• Message text: The main EAN for supplier &, unit of measure &, material & is not unique

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message MH236 - The main EAN for supplier &, unit of measure &, material & is not unique ?

  The SAP error message MH236 indicates that there is a problem with the uniqueness of the main EAN (European Article Number) for a specific supplier, unit of measure, and material. This error typically arises when you are trying to create or update a material master record, and the system finds that the EAN you are trying to assign is already associated with another material or supplier combination.
  Cause:
  
  Duplicate EAN: The main EAN you are trying to assign to the material is already in use for another material or supplier combination in the system.
  Incorrect Data Entry: There may have been a mistake in entering the EAN, leading to a conflict with existing records.
  Data Migration Issues: If data was migrated from another system, duplicates may have been introduced.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Existing EANs: 
  
  Use transaction code MM03 (Display Material) to check if the EAN is already assigned to another material. 
  You can also use transaction MM02 (Change Material) to view the EANs associated with the material.
  
  
  
  Identify Duplicates: 
  
  Run a report or query to identify all materials that are using the same EAN. This can help you understand the scope of the issue.
  
  
  
  Correct the EAN: 
  
  If the EAN is indeed duplicated, you will need to either change the EAN for one of the materials or remove the duplicate entry if it is not needed.
  
  
  
  Data Cleanup: 
  
  If the duplicates are a result of data migration, consider cleaning up the data to ensure that each EAN is unique across the relevant materials and suppliers.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation: 
  
  Review SAP documentation or consult with your SAP support team for specific guidelines on handling EANs and material master data.
  
  
  
  Use Unique EANs: 
  
  Ensure that any new EANs you create are unique and do not conflict with existing records.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Material Master Data: Understanding how material master data is structured in SAP can help prevent issues with EANs.
  EAN Management: Familiarize yourself with how EANs are managed in your organization, including any specific rules or conventions that are followed.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to EAN handling in your version of SAP.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the MH236 error and ensure that your EANs are unique within the system.