How To Fix MM189 - The external material group & does not exist

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

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

• Message number: 189

• Message text: The external material group & does not exist

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message MM189 - The external material group & does not exist ?

  The SAP error message MM189, which states "The external material group & does not exist," typically occurs in the Materials Management (MM) module when you are trying to use an external material group that has not been defined in the system. This can happen during various transactions, such as creating or updating material master records, or when processing purchase orders.
  Cause:
  
  Non-Existent External Material Group: The external material group you are trying to use has not been created or is not available in the system.
  Incorrect Input: There may be a typo or incorrect entry in the external material group field.
  Data Migration Issues: If data was migrated from another system, the external material groups may not have been properly imported.
  Authorization Issues: The user may not have the necessary permissions to view or use the external material group.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check the External Material Group:
  
  Go to the transaction code OMD1 (or the relevant transaction for your version) to check if the external material group exists.
  If it does not exist, you will need to create it.
  
  
  
  Create the External Material Group:
  
  Use transaction code OMD1 to create a new external material group.
  Fill in the necessary details and save the entry.
  
  
  
  Verify Input:
  
  Double-check the input for any typos or errors. Ensure that you are using the correct external material group code.
  
  
  
  Data Migration:
  
  If this issue arose after a data migration, verify that the migration process included the external material groups and that they were correctly mapped.
  
  
  
  Authorization Check:
  
  Ensure that the user has the necessary authorizations to access and use the external material group. This may involve checking user roles and permissions.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Refer to SAP documentation or your organization's internal guidelines for managing external material groups.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Transaction Codes:
  
  OMD1: Create External Material Group
  OMD2: Change External Material Group
  OMD3: Display External Material Group
  
  
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message.
  
  
  User Roles: Ensure that the user has the appropriate roles assigned in the SAP system to access material master data.
  
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the MM189 error and successfully work with external material groups in SAP.