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SAP BOM Usage, Status and Item Category Reference

When MRP explodes the wrong BOM, planned orders show the wrong parts. This reference lists the SAP BOM usage keys, BOM statuses, BOM categories and item categories used in standard setups, together with the transactions and tables you need to find them.

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Code / object	Kind	Meaning	Practical note
1	BOM usage	Production	Used by MRP and production orders when selected by the BOM selection ID.
2	BOM usage	Engineering/design	Engineering view. Often not used by MRP.
3	BOM usage	Universal	Shared across several areas. Common in simple setups.
4	BOM usage	Plant maintenance	Used by PM for maintenance orders.
5	BOM usage	Sales and distribution	Used for sales BOMs and pricing structures.
01	BOM status	Active	Normally the status used by MRP, order creation and costing.
02	BOM status	Inactive	Blocked from use in MRP and order explosion in the standard setup.
M	BOM category	Material BOM	The standard BOM for a material.
E	BOM category	Equipment BOM	Linked to equipment master in PM.
K	BOM category	Document structure	Structure of documents in DMS.
S	BOM category	Sales order BOM	Order specific BOM for make to order.
T	BOM category	Functional location BOM	Linked to functional locations in PM.
P	BOM category	Project BOM	Linked to project system.
L	Item category	Stock item	Material with stock. Included in MRP and costing.
N	Item category	Non-stock item	Procured directly for the order. Not held in stock.
R	Item category	Variable-size item	Component with dimensions, such as cut sheet or bar.
D	Item category	Document item	Links a document in the BOM.
T	Item category	Text item	Information line only. No stock or requirement.
K	Item category	Class item	Class based selection of components.
CS01	Transaction	Create material BOM	Enter material, plant, usage and alternative.
CS02	Transaction	Change material BOM	Change items, validity dates and change numbers.
CS03	Transaction	Display material BOM	Read only view.
CS11	Transaction	Display BOM level by level	Single level display of structure.
CS12	Transaction	Display BOM multilevel	Full explosion of a BOM.
CS13	Transaction	Display BOM summarized	Totals component quantities across levels.
CS15	Transaction	Where-used list for material	Find parent assemblies that use a component.
STKO	Table	BOM header	Status STLST, base quantity BMENG, alternative STLAL.
STPO	Table	BOM item	Component IDNRK, quantity MENGE, item category POSTP.
STAS	Table	BOM item selection	Links items to the header by STLNR and STLKN.
MAST	Table	Material to BOM link	Joins MATNR and WERKS to STLNR and STLAN.
STZU	Table	Permanent BOM data	Contains data such as BOM validity indicator.
Alternative	Concept	Multiple BOMs per material and plant	Alternative is selected by order quantity, date or priority in the selection ID.
Selection ID	Concept	Rule that selects the BOM alternative	Controls which usage and alternative MRP and orders explode.

Standard delivered values are listed. Many companies add custom BOM usages or statuses, so confirm in Customizing (BOM usage definitions) for your system.

Compare BOMs across plants faster

Optional: an expert review of how to check BOM consistency with a read only assistant.

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How to use the reference

Search for the field you are looking at on the BOM screen, such as usage 1 or item category N, and read the practical note. Use the transaction rows when you are unsure whether to use CS03 or CS12 and the table rows when you write a query. Export the list to Excel for a master data guide for new engineers.

Filter by kind to see only usage keys or only tables
Use CS12 for a full multilevel explosion
Use CS15 to see where a component is used

BOM usage and the selection ID

BOM usage describes who uses the BOM: production, engineering, maintenance or sales. The BOM selection ID defines which usage and which alternative MRP, order creation and costing pick. If your engineering BOM is usage 2 but the selection ID only looks for usage 1, planned orders get no components. Check this first when an explosion looks empty.

BOM status and item categories

BOM status controls whether the BOM is released for use in areas such as MRP, planning, production and costing. In standard setups 01 is active and 02 is inactive. Item category decides how SAP treats each component: L is a stock item and appears in MRP, N is a non-stock item procured for the order, R is variable size and T is text only. Wrong item category is a common reason that a component does not create a requirement.

Common mistakes

Changing a BOM without a change number or validity date breaks history for open orders. Leaving the status inactive after an engineering change hides the BOM from MRP. Using non-stock items for parts that should be planned leads to surprise purchases.

Use change numbers for controlled changes
Check status after every upload
Review item category for any component with no requirement

Frequently Asked Questions

What BOM usage should I use for production?

Usage 1 is the standard key for production in delivered SAP. The key your MRP actually reads depends on the BOM selection ID in Customizing, so confirm the setting before loading BOMs.

Which tables store SAP BOMs?

MAST links material and plant to the BOM number. STKO holds the header, STPO the items, and STAS links items to the header. Join them using STLNR and, for the alternative, STLAL.

What is the difference between item category L and N?

L is a stock item held in inventory and planned by MRP. N is a non-stock item procured directly for the order, so it does not use stock and is not planned in the usual way.

How do I find where a component is used?

Use the where-used list transaction CS15 for the component. It lists parent assemblies by plant, usage and validity. This is key when assessing the impact of an engineering change.

If you want engineering and planning to see BOM differences before they hit production, we can build a comparison assistant over your SAP BOM tables, read only with the query shown.

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