How To Fix MM181 - The EAN category & does not exist

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: MM - Messages for material master maintenance and Customizing

• Message number: 181

• Message text: The EAN category & does not exist

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message MM181 - The EAN category & does not exist ?

  The SAP error message MM181, which states "The EAN category & does not exist," typically occurs in the Materials Management (MM) module when there is an issue related to the European Article Number (EAN) or barcode configuration for a material. This error indicates that the system is unable to find a valid EAN category for the material you are trying to process.
  Cause:
  
  Missing EAN Category: The EAN category specified for the material does not exist in the system. This can happen if the EAN category was not defined or was deleted.
  Incorrect Material Master Data: The material master data may not have been set up correctly, leading to a reference to a non-existent EAN category.
  Configuration Issues: There may be issues in the configuration settings related to EAN categories in the system.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the MM181 error, you can follow these steps:
  
  
  Check EAN Category Configuration:
  
  Go to the transaction code OMD1 (or navigate through the SAP menu: Logistics > Material Management > Material Master > Settings > EAN).
  Verify if the EAN category you are trying to use is defined in the system. If it is not, you will need to create it.
  
  
  
  Create or Modify EAN Category:
  
  If the EAN category does not exist, you can create it by entering the necessary details (like EAN category code, description, etc.).
  If it exists but is not configured correctly, you may need to modify it to ensure it meets your requirements.
  
  
  
  Check Material Master Data:
  
  Use transaction code MM03 to display the material master data for the affected material.
  Check the EAN/UPC section to see if the EAN category is correctly assigned. If it is incorrect or missing, you can update it using transaction code MM02.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review SAP documentation or help files related to EAN categories and material master data to ensure you are following the correct procedures.
  
  
  
  Contact SAP Support:
  
  If you are unable to resolve the issue, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting SAP Notes for any known issues related to this error.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  EAN (European Article Number): A standard for barcodes that is used to identify products uniquely.
  Material Master Data: Contains all the information related to a material, including its EAN, which is crucial for inventory management and sales processes.
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as MM01 (Create Material), MM02 (Change Material), and MM03 (Display Material) for managing material master data.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the cause of the MM181 error in SAP.