Phase 5 — Special Procurement
🎯 In plain words
❓ Why it matters
Real clients use these constantly — subcontracting and STOs especially. And the exam and interviews probe them hard: knowing which item category and which movement types drive each flow is exactly what marks you as more than a beginner.
🧠 Key concepts you must know
1. Returns to vendor
Goods are faulty, so you send them back. Either a return PO or a return delivery: post mvt 122 (return from the receipt) or 161 (return-PO goods issue), then the vendor issues a credit memo to reverse the charge.
2. Subcontracting — vendor builds it
You send raw components, the vendor assembles and returns the finished item. Item category L. You provide components with mvt 541, and at GR of the finished part SAP consumes them with mvt 543. The BOM tells SAP which components to issue.
3. Consignment — pay on consumption
Vendor's stock sits in your warehouse but stays vendor-owned (item category K) until you withdraw it. You only owe money once you consume — settle periodically with MRKO.
4. Pipeline & third-party
- Pipeline (item category P) — material drawn continuously (water, electricity, gas); no stock, you pay for what flows.
- Third-party / drop-ship (item category S) — vendor ships directly to your customer; goods never touch your warehouse. Triggered from a sales order.
5. Stock Transport Orders (STO)
- Intra-company (doc type UB) — move stock between two plants in the same company code; goods movement only, no billing.
- Inter-company — plants in different company codes; uses an SD delivery + billing (and an internal invoice) because money crosses a legal boundary.
🛠️ Do it now — practise alongside
Don't just read — run each flow once in your IDES. These only stick when you've watched the special movement types fire:
Returns (2) Subcontracting (9) Consignment (10) Intra STO (7) Inter-Co STO (8)For subcontracting, watch the 541 when you provide components and the 543 at GR; for consignment, run a withdrawal then settle with MRKO.
🔗 Connects to
- Phase 4 — Procure-to-Pay: every flow here is the base buying cycle with one step changed.
- Phase 12 — Cross-Module: third-party and inter-company STO reach into SD and PP.
- Phase 8 — Valuation & Special G/L: consignment and special stocks use special G/L logic.
🎓 Cert focus & quick recall
C_TS452 area ③ (special). Expect questions on item categories, the subcontracting movements, consignment settlement, and STO differences.
Item category L vs K vs S — what do they mean?
L = subcontracting (vendor builds from your components). K = consignment (vendor-owned stock in your warehouse). S = third-party (vendor ships straight to your customer).
When do you run MRKO?
To settle consignment — after you've consumed vendor-owned stock, MRKO creates the liability and invoice for what you withdrew.
Intra- vs inter-company STO — what's the difference?
Intra-company (doc type UB) moves stock between plants in the same company code — goods movement only. Inter-company crosses company codes, so it needs an SD delivery + billing and an internal invoice.
Which movements send and consume subcontracting components?
541 provides (sends) the components to the subcontractor; 543 consumes them automatically when you post the goods receipt of the finished part.
✅ You're ready to move on when…
- You can match item categories L / K / S to subcontracting / consignment / third-party without hesitating.
- You've run a return, a subcontracting cycle, a consignment settlement and both STOs in IDES.
- You can explain the intra- vs inter-company STO difference and what 541/543 do.