How To Fix QS856 - Characteristic you have entered is an SPC characteristic

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: QS - QM: Master data

• Message number: 856

• Message text: Characteristic you have entered is an SPC characteristic

What causes this issue?

The control indicator 'SPC characteristic' is set for the master
inspection characteristic. If you inspect with a material specification
only, this characteristic cannot be treated as an SPC characteristic in
inspection processing. You also cannot run any control charts.
If you want to use control charts, you must inspect with a task list.

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

System Response

How to fix this error?

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message QS856 - Characteristic you have entered is an SPC characteristic ?

  The SAP error message QS856 indicates that the characteristic you are trying to use is defined as a Statistical Process Control (SPC) characteristic. This means that the characteristic is intended for use in quality control processes and is subject to specific rules and configurations within the SAP Quality Management (QM) module.
  Cause:
  The error typically occurs when:
  
  You are trying to perform an action (like creating a quality notification, inspection lot, or similar) that is not compatible with SPC characteristics.
  The characteristic is set up in a way that restricts its use outside of SPC-related processes.
  The characteristic may be incorrectly configured or used in a context that does not support SPC.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve the QS856 error, consider the following steps:
  
  
  Check Characteristic Configuration:
  
  Go to the characteristic configuration in the SAP system (transaction code CT04).
  Verify if the characteristic is indeed marked as an SPC characteristic. If it is, ensure that you are using it in the correct context.
  
  
  
  Review Usage Context:
  
  Ensure that you are using the characteristic in a context that supports SPC. For example, if you are trying to enter data in a quality notification, make sure that the notification type allows for SPC characteristics.
  
  
  
  Adjust Characteristic Settings:
  
  If the characteristic should not be an SPC characteristic, you may need to change its settings. This can involve unchecking the SPC option in the characteristic configuration.
  Be cautious with this change, as it may affect existing processes and data.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  Review SAP documentation or help resources related to SPC characteristics to understand their intended use and limitations.
  
  
  
  Seek Help from SAP Support:
  
  If you are unable to resolve the issue, consider reaching out to SAP support or your internal SAP team for assistance. They may provide insights specific to your system configuration.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SPC Characteristics: These are used in quality management to monitor and control processes. They often involve statistical methods to ensure that processes remain within specified limits.
  Quality Management Module: Familiarize yourself with the QM module in SAP, as it contains various functionalities related to quality planning, inspection, and control.
  Transaction Codes: Useful transaction codes include CT04 (to create/change characteristics), QCC0 (to manage quality control charts), and QA32 (to manage inspection lots).
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to address the QS856 error and ensure that you are using SPC characteristics correctly within your SAP environment.