1. What are stock types in SAP MM?
Answer:
Stock types in SAP MM represent the usage status of material inventory. They control whether stock can be used for consumption, sales, or production. The main stock types are:
- Unrestricted-use stock
- Quality Inspection (QI) stock
- Blocked stock
2. What is Unrestricted-use stock?
Answer:
Unrestricted-use stock is inventory that is fully available for:
- Goods issue
- Sales
- Production
- Transfer posting
It has no quality or usage restrictions.
3. What is Quality Inspection (QI) stock?
Answer:
Quality Inspection stock is material that is pending quality check and cannot be used until inspection is completed and a usage decision is made.
4. What is Blocked stock?
Answer:
Blocked stock is inventory that is not usable due to:
- Damage
- Expiry
- Vendor disputes
- Compliance issues
It cannot be consumed or sold.
5. What happens to stock during Goods Receipt with Quality Inspection?
Answer:
If QM is active and inspection is required:
- Stock is posted to Quality Inspection stock
- Inspection lot is created automatically
- Stock moves to Unrestricted or Blocked only after Usage Decision (UD)
6. Can we issue goods from Quality Inspection stock?
Answer:
❌ No.
Goods issue is not allowed from QI stock until it is released via Usage Decision.
7. Can we issue goods from Blocked stock?
Answer:
❌ No.
Blocked stock is completely restricted. It must first be transferred to Unrestricted stock.
8. How do you convert QI stock to Unrestricted stock?
Answer:
By making a Usage Decision (UD) in QM.
Movement:
- 321 → QI to Unrestricted
9. How do you move Unrestricted stock to Blocked stock?
Answer:
Using Transfer Posting:
- 344 → Unrestricted to Blocked
10. Important Movement Types for Stock Types
| Movement Type | Description |
|---|---|
| 101 | GR to Unrestricted |
| 103 | GR to GR blocked |
| 105 | Release GR blocked |
| 321 | QI → Unrestricted |
| 322 | QI → Blocked |
| 343 | Blocked → Unrestricted |
| 344 | Unrestricted → Blocked |
11. What is GR Blocked Stock?
Answer:
GR Blocked stock is temporary blocked stock during Goods Receipt (movement 103).
It is released using 105 after verification.
12. Difference between Blocked stock and GR Blocked stock?
| Blocked Stock | GR Blocked Stock |
|---|---|
| Permanently unusable | Temporarily blocked |
| Used after inspection | Used during GR process |
| Movement 344 | Movement 103 |
13. Can Quality Inspection stock exist without QM?
Answer:
❌ No.
QI stock requires Quality Management (QM) to be active.
14. Where do you activate Quality Inspection for a material?
Answer:
In Material Master → QM View → Inspection Type (e.g., 01 – GR inspection for PO).
15. What happens if QM is not active?
Answer:
All Goods Receipts go directly to Unrestricted stock (movement 101).
16. How does stock type affect MRP?
Answer:
- Unrestricted stock → Fully considered
- QI stock → Considered based on MRP settings
- Blocked stock → Not considered in MRP
17. Which stock types are valuated?
Answer:
- Unrestricted stock → Valuated
- QI stock → Valuated
- Blocked stock → Valuated
(Valuation happens at plant/storage location level)
18. Can stock type be changed without movement type?
Answer:
❌ No.
Stock type change always requires a movement type.
19. How do stock types appear in tables?
| Table | Field |
|---|---|
| MARD | Labst (Unrestricted) |
| MARD | Insme (QI stock) |
| MARD | Speme (Blocked stock) |
20. Real-time interview scenario question
Question: Vendor delivers material but quality is not verified yet. Where will stock go?
Answer:
If QM is active → Quality Inspection stock
If QM is inactive → Unrestricted stock
Bonus: One-liner interview answers
- Unrestricted stock → Ready to use
- QI stock → Waiting for approval
- Blocked stock → Not usable at all