How To Fix WRF_FOLUPART008 - Follow-up/replacement material relationship has cycles

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WRF_FOLUPART - Follow-Up/Replacement Material

• Message number: 008

• Message text: Follow-up/replacement material relationship has cycles

What causes this issue?

You defined list field <LS>Check for Cycles</> in the current follow-up
type such that the system runs a check for two-level cycles when a
follow-up/replacement material relationship is created.
A two-level cycle exists when the follow-up/replacement material of a
follow-up/replacement material relationship is the original material in
a second follow-up/replacement material relationship, and the
follow-up/replacement material in this second follow-up/replacement
material relationship is the original material of the first. In
addition, both relationships have to have the same follow-up type
number.
Example A
Follow-up/repl. mat. rel. 1,,Original material:,,,,1000
,,Follow-up/repl. mat.:,,,,2000
,,Follow-up type no.:,,,,01
Follow-up/repl. mat. rel. 2,,Original material:,,,,2000
,,Follow-up/repl. mat.:,,,,1000
,,Follow-up type no.:,,,,01
-> Two-level cycle
Example B
Follow-up/repl. mat. rel. 1,,Original material:,,,,1000
,,Follow-up/repl. mat.:,,,,2000
,,Follow-up type no.:,,,,01
Follow-up/repl. mat. rel. 2,,Original material:,,,,2000
,,Follow-up/repl. mat.:,,,,1000
,,Follow-up type no.:,,,,02
-> Not a two-level cycle
Example C
Follow-up/repl. mat. rel. 1,,Original material:,,,,1000
,,Follow-up/repl. mat.:,,,,2000
,,Follow-up type no.: ,,,,01
Follow-up/repl. mat. rel. 2,,Original material:,,,,2000
,,Follow-up/repl. mat.:,,,,3000
,,Follow-up type no.:,,,,01
-> Not a two-level cycle
You defined in Customizing that the system should display a warning
message or error message when a two-level cycle exists.

System Response

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

How to fix this error?

If the system displays a warning message, you can leave the
follow-up/relationship material relationship unchanged. The system saves
the relationship.
If the system displays an error message, you have to change the original
material and/or the follow-up/replacement material. The system does not
save the relationship.
Alternatively, you can also create the follow-up/replacement material
relationship for a different follow-up type number.

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 WRF_FOLUPART008 - Follow-up/replacement material relationship has cycles ?

  Certainly! Here's a detailed explanation for the SAP error message WRF_FOLUPART008: Follow-up/replacement material relationship has cycles:
  
  Error Message:
  WRF_FOLUPART008 - Follow-up/replacement material relationship has cycles
  
  Cause:
  This error occurs when there is a circular reference in the follow-up or replacement material relationships defined in the system. In other words, the system detects a cycle in the chain of follow-up or replacement materials, which is logically inconsistent.
  For example, if Material A is defined as a follow-up or replacement for Material B, and Material B is also defined as a follow-up or replacement for Material A (directly or indirectly through other materials), this creates a cycle.
  Such cycles are not allowed because they create infinite loops in material determination or substitution processes.
  
  Where it occurs:
  
  When maintaining follow-up or replacement materials in material master data.
  During configuration or master data maintenance related to material substitution or follow-up material determination.
  In sales order processing or other processes where follow-up or replacement materials are determined.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Identify the cycle:
  
  Review the follow-up or replacement material assignments.
  Trace the chain of follow-up/replacement materials to find where the cycle occurs.
  You can use reports or custom tools to analyze the follow-up material relationships.
  
  
  
  Break the cycle:
  
  Remove or correct the follow-up/replacement material assignment that causes the cycle.
  Ensure that the chain of follow-up or replacement materials is linear or hierarchical without loops.
  
  
  
  Check master data:
  
  Go to the material master (transaction MM02 or MM03).
  Navigate to the relevant tab where follow-up or replacement materials are maintained (e.g., Sales: General/Plant or other relevant views).
  Correct the entries to remove circular references.
  
  
  
  Validate after correction:
  
  Save the changes.
  Re-run the process that triggered the error to confirm the issue is resolved.
  
  
  
  
  Additional Information:
  
  Follow-up material: A material that replaces another material after the original material is discontinued or no longer available.
  Replacement material: A material that can be used instead of another material, often used in sales or production.
  Cycles in these relationships can cause issues in automated material determination, pricing, availability checks, and order processing.
  
  
  Summary:
  
  
  
  Aspect
  Description
  
  
  
  
  Cause
  Circular (cyclic) follow-up or replacement material relationship exists in material master.
  
  
  Effect
  System cannot determine follow-up/replacement material due to infinite loop.
  
  
  Solution
  Identify and remove the cycle by correcting material master data to ensure no circular links.
  
  
  Where to fix
  Material master data (MM02/MM03), follow-up/replacement material assignments.
  
  
  
  
  If you need help identifying the cycle, you may consider exporting the follow-up/replacement material data and analyzing it with a graph or tree structure to find loops.
  
  Let me know if you want guidance on how to find cycles programmatically or via standard SAP reports!