1. The SAP serial number functionality allows precise tracking of individual inventory items using unique serial numbers. 2. Serial number profiles define how serial numbers are assigned to materials and are configured at the plant level in the material master. 3. For existing stock where serial numbers are now required, the stock must be removed through a goods issue transaction and re-entered through a goods receipt transaction with serial numbers assigned. Directly changing serial numbers for existing stock is not possible.

1. Serial Number Profile configuration for Material
Overview
The SAP serial number functionality allows managing serialized stock keeping. SAP Serial number
Management is mainly focuses on Inventory tracking before and after sales. It is a precise approach than
Batch management. Batches are defined as subset of material in stock. Serial number is a number that you
Give to individual item of material in addition to the material number, in order to differentiate between this
Individual piece and all other items of the material. Always the material number and serial number
Combination is unique in system. The SAP serial number component contributes in following business area.
1. Inventory management
2. Production orders
3. Repetitive manufacturing
4. Quality Management
5. Sales orders
6. Plant Maintenance
Serial Number Profile
Serial numbers profile defines the conditions and operations for assigning serial numbers to materials. It is
plant level definition in material master work scheduling view. Serial number profiles are defined in
Customization at
SPRO-> Plant Maintenance and customer service->Master data in Plant Maintenance and customer service
->Technical Object->Serial Number management->Define Serial Number profiles.
1. Define Serial NumberProfiles
2. Define SerializationAttributesforMovementTypes

2. 1. Serial Number Profile configuration for Material, If the serial Number Profile assigned to material
master, serial number will be activated for
those materials ONLY
2. During Goods Receipt/Goods Issue, Serial Numbers should be maintained Each and every
quantity, for the serial number activated materials.
3. Through MMBE transaction, serial number details can be able to check
Requirements:
1. Will these processes be applicable for the existing stock as well?
2. Should we maintain anything at PO level?
For the existing stock,
1. SAP recommends the following process
Remove the stock through Goods Issue (201) from store,
activate serial number profile in the Material Master,
reverse the stock through Goods receipt (202) in with serial number.
2. We will assign serial Number Profile to Material Master Itself, there is no need to maintain in
the PO level
3. Stock report wants to customize according to the serial number. because if 100 quantity
means system want to pick 100 serial number in the stock report

3. Key point's for your information:
1. Once assigned serial number to stock, it's not possible to change. You need to reverse
the goods movement and do it again.
2. You cannot directly change the serial numbers for the existing stocks.
3. Advantage of serial no is, we can track the movements of each serial number of
material.
4. Dis-advantage is, every time you need to enter the serial number for every one quantity
for movements.
Serial number can be generated by two options for specific material
1) Creation of serial number while creating master data.
2) Creation of serial number while doing transactions..
So serial number will not be assigned to old or existing records which are created before serial
number activation.
Once serial number is activated for material, then serial number will be generated while creating
master data or while doing transactions as per settings.
Note:
* It is applicable for all modules including PS, Sales Etc.
* If serial number is required for existing records we need to reverse and post it again.
1) Do we need to reverse the GRN and repost with serial number?
If serial number required for already posted quantity we need to reverse the GRN and post with
serial number.
Example:
Order Quantity: 100 Nos
Delivered quantity : 25 Nos
Serial number profile is activated and assigned in material master data
Now system will create serial number for remaining 75 Nos only while doing GRN
If serial number is required for already posted GRN (i.e 25 Nos). we need to reverse and repost it
with serial number.
2) Will system allow processing GRN with serial number even though master data is not maintained
so?
No, If master data is not maintained it is not possible to process GRN with serial number
Three scenarios for the inventory, to be highlighted are:
1. Movement exist and complete stock is consumed
2. Movement exist and stock still available
3. No movement (new materials)