JinJin48

SAP Consultant | BTP · S/4HANA · US Global Rollout

June 23, 2026 · 11 min read

SAP MM Source List

The Source List defines which vendors are authorized to supply a given material at a given plant, and for which time period. It sits directly below the Purchasing Info Record in the Phase 5 master data hierarchy and acts as the control gate for both manual purchasing and MRP-driven automatic source determination. Without an active Source List entry, the Purchasing Info Record is not considered when MRP assigns a source to a planned order or purchase requisition. This article maps the Source List’s types, organizational scope, data structure, and field-level detail for MM consultants.

Part 1: Source List — Core Concepts (All Modules)#

1.1 What Is the Source List?#

The Source List is a time-bounded register of approved supply sources for a specific material at a specific plant. Each line in the list names a vendor (and optionally a Purchasing Info Record, Contract, or Scheduling Agreement) and defines the window during which that source is valid. The Source List’s primary purpose is to answer a single operational question: “For this material-plant combination, which vendor should we order from today?”

1.2 Source Types and MRP Indicator Values#

The Source List supports multiple source types in the same list. Each entry can point to a Vendor, an Outline Agreement (Contract or Scheduling Agreement), or both. The MRP Indicator field then controls whether MRP can use that source automatically, ignore it, or actively block procurement from other sources.

Design principle: Set MRP Indicator = 1 as the default for all active sources participating in MRP replenishment. Reserve Fixed (2) for regulatory or contractual sole-source requirements. Never leave entries with overlapping Fixed-source periods for the same material-plant — MRP raises an error at source determination runtime.

1.3 Organizational Levels and Data Hierarchy#

Data hierarchy with a concrete example

Client
   │
   ├── Plant 1000
   │      │
   │      ├── Material A
   │      │      ├── Source List Record: Vendor X (Jan–Jun, Fixed Source)
   │      │      └── Source List Record: Vendor Y (Jul–Dec)
   │      │
   │      └── Material B
   │             └── Source List Record: Vendor Y (full year, MRP-relevant)
   │
   └── Plant 2000
          │
          └── Material C
                 └── Source List Record: Vendor Z (full year, Fixed Source)

1.4 Integration with Other Master Data Objects#

The Source List does not stand alone. It depends on the Purchasing Info Record for price and delivery data and feeds Quota Arrangement for multi-source splitting.

Part 2: MM-Specific Field Details#

2.0 Scope of MM Ownership#

Legend: ◎ = Owner / Critical, ○ = Direct involvement

2.1 Source List Header#

The Source List header identifies the material-plant combination being governed. The “Source List” indicator in the Material Master Purchasing View determines whether maintaining a Source List is mandatory or optional for this material.

2.2 Source Entry — Vendor and Agreement#

Each Source List line (EORD record) nominates one source of supply. The source can be a vendor alone (referenced via PIR) or an Outline Agreement (Contract or Scheduling Agreement) with or without an explicit vendor entry.

2.3 Source Entry — Validity Period#

The validity period is the single most critical operational element of the Source List. A Source List entry that has expired is invisible to MRP and manual source determination, regardless of whether the PIR is still valid.

Prerequisite: Validity periods for Fixed-source entries must not overlap across vendors for the same material-plant. Overlapping Fixed sources cause an MRP error at source determination runtime. For multi-source periods, use MRP Indicator = 1 (not Fixed) and manage allocation via Quota Arrangement instead.

2.4 Source Entry — MRP Control#

The MRP control fields determine whether and how MRP incorporates this source entry during the planning run. These fields are the bridge between the Source List master data and the MRP execution engine.

2.5 Source Entry — Block Indicator#

The Block indicator provides a lightweight mechanism to suspend procurement from a source without deleting the Source List entry or shortening its validity period. This preserves the audit trail while preventing new orders.

Prerequisite: If all Source List entries for a material-plant are blocked and the “Source List” indicator is active in the Material Master, MRP will generate PRs without a source assigned. Monitor for unassigned PRs in the MRP exception list (MD06) and investigate the Source List as the first diagnostic step.

What to Read Next#

L1) Big Picture

L2-A) Master Data

L2-B) Transaction