The material type is a fundamental control object in the SAP S/4HANA material master. It dictates several key attributes and system behaviors for materials grouped under it. Specifically, it determines which user department views (screens) are available for data entry and the sequence in which they appear. This ensures that only relevant data is maintained for a specific type of material (e.g., raw materials vs. finished goods). Additionally, the material type configuration directly controls the procurement type, defining whether a material is exclusively for in-house production, external procurement, or can be sourced through both methods.

A. Which document types class categories are allowed

The material type does not control which purchasing or sales document types can be used, nor does it restrict the available class categories for classification.

B. Which plantspecific plantindependent statuses are allowed

The material type can define a default cross-plant material status, but it does not control the complete list of statuses that are allowed to be assigned to the material.

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1. SAP S/4HANA Product Assistance - Material Type:

Reference: SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA 2023

Enterprise Business Applications -> R&D / Engineering -> Product Master Data -> Material Master -> Material Master Record -> Material Type.

Content: The documentation explicitly states that the material type determines "...which user departments (views) can be maintained for a material of this type" (supporting answer C) and "...whether the material is intended for in-house production

external procurement

or both" (supporting answer D).

2. SAP S/4HANA Customizing Guide (IMG):

Reference: Transaction SPRO -> Logistics - General -> Material Master -> Basic Settings -> Material Types -> Define Attributes of Material Types (Transaction OMS2).

Content: In this configuration activity

for each material type

you can select the "User departments" (which determines the views/screens) and set the "Internal/external purchase orders" indicator

which defines the allowed procurement type (e.g.

external

internal

or both). This directly confirms the control functions mentioned in answers C and D.