How To Fix /SAPAPO/MAT820 - Only one product group type can be the external material group

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: /SAPAPO/MAT -

• Message number: 820

• Message text: Only one product group type can be the external material group

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message /SAPAPO/MAT820 - Only one product group type can be the external material group ?

  The SAP error message /SAPAPO/MAT820 indicates that there is an issue with the configuration of product group types in the Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO) module. Specifically, it states that only one product group type can be designated as the external material group. This error typically arises when there is an attempt to assign multiple product group types as external material groups, which is not allowed in the system.
  Cause:
  
  Multiple Product Group Types: The primary cause of this error is that more than one product group type has been defined as an external material group in the system.
  Configuration Issues: There may be a misconfiguration in the product group settings or in the master data setup.
  Data Inconsistency: There could be inconsistencies in the data where the system is unable to determine which product group type should be the external material group.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can follow these steps:
  
  
  Check Product Group Types:
  
  Go to the configuration settings for product group types in SAP APO.
  Verify which product group types are currently set as external material groups.
  
  
  
  Adjust Configuration:
  
  Ensure that only one product group type is marked as the external material group. If there are multiple entries, you will need to decide which one should remain and remove the others.
  You can do this by navigating to the relevant configuration transaction (usually in SPRO) and adjusting the settings accordingly.
  
  
  
  Review Master Data:
  
  Check the master data for products to ensure that they are assigned to the correct product group type.
  Make sure that the product group type assigned to the products aligns with the configuration.
  
  
  
  Testing:
  
  After making the necessary changes, test the configuration by trying to execute the process that previously triggered the error to ensure that it has been resolved.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  If you are unsure about the changes, refer to SAP documentation or consult with an SAP APO expert to ensure that the configuration aligns with best practices.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: You may need to use transaction codes like /SAPAPO/PRODVIEW or /SAPAPO/MC90 to view and manage product groups and their configurations.
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may provide additional insights or updates related to this error message.
  Support: If the issue persists after following the above steps, consider reaching out to SAP support for further assistance.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the /SAPAPO/MAT820 error and ensure that your product group configurations are set up correctly.