Transportation Management with SAP LES

Master data ensures that logistics and sales processes run securely and
smoothly. This chapter investigates the basic functions underlying the various
master data.
3 Master Data
To map business processes with application software, we need to make the traditional
distinction between master data and transaction data.
This chapter will look at master data required for processes in the shipping
and transportation system. You can make a distinction between mandatory and
optional master data. The mandatory master data includes the material master
and the customer master. Optional master data includes the vendor master, the
dangerous goods master, and the batch master. You need the vendor master when
you use shipping companies in your shipping and transportation documents and
settle shipments. If you deliver dangerous goods to your customers, you need a
dangerous goods master, because in this case special requirements apply to the
shipments and the printing of the shipping documents. If you manage your materials
by batches, you will need a batch master.
3.1 Material Master Data
All materials processed in the shipping and transportation system will have to be
maintained in the material master file. Usually, this includes not only the materials
that are manufactured or purchased in your company and have to be shipped to
the customer, but also the materials that are required for shipping itself (shipping
materials such as pallets, or packaging material such as cardboard boxes). The more
detailed you want to map the processes in the logistic areas of your company, the
more accurately the master data has to be maintained.
Unless the master data is carefully maintained, problems and errors occur in certain
activities in the process chain, often as late as when goods issues are posted.
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