Products, dimensions and variants
Products are the foundation of every supply chain process. The model separates what a product is (shared across companies) from how each company uses it (per legal entity).
Product, product master and release
A product is a shared definition. There are two subtypes:
| Subtype | Use |
|---|---|
| Product | A single item with no variants |
| Product master | A template that generates product variants from product dimensions |
A product cannot be used in transactions until you release it to a legal entity. That creates the released product, where you set the item group, item model group, dimension groups and prices. You can release to many companies at once with Release products.
The product type is Item (holds stock) or Service (does not).
Product dimensions and variants
Product dimensions create variants: Configuration, Size, Color and Style. Define values on the product master, then create the variants. Each variant gets its own product number and can have its own barcode and price.
A product master requires a product dimension group, which says which of the four dimensions are active. You can change the group only while the product master is not released to any legal entity.
Dimension groups on the released product
| Group | Controls |
|---|---|
| Product dimension group | Which product dimensions are active (set on the product master) |
| Storage dimension group | Site, warehouse, location, inventory status, license plate |
| Tracking dimension group | Batch number, serial number, owner |
Each dimension can be active for physical inventory, for financial inventory, and for coverage planning. Site and warehouse are required for storage. Dimension settings cannot be changed freely once the item has inventory transactions.
Variants in practice
Create variants manually, or use the Product variant generator to build all combinations. A variant can be released separately, but it is the master that carries the shared name, category and dimension group. Changes to the master that affect all variants are done once.
Exam traps
- A product cannot be sold or purchased before it is released to the legal entity.
- Product dimensions (Size, Color) are not storage dimensions (Site, Warehouse) or tracking dimensions (Batch, Serial).
- Variants come from a product master, never from a plain product.
- The product dimension group is locked after release; storage and tracking groups are locked by transactions.
Practice questions
Choose an answer, then review the explanation to check your understanding.
1. A clothing company sells one shirt in three sizes and four colors. Each combination needs its own stock level. What do you create?
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Answer: A.A product master with the Size and Color product dimensions generates a product variant for each combination.
2. A product master has not been released to any legal entity. Which condition lets you still change its product dimension group?
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Answer: B.The product dimension group can be changed only while the product master is not released to any legal entity.
3. Which setting decides whether batch numbers are tracked for an item in a company?
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Answer: B.The tracking dimension group controls batch and serial numbers. Storage dimensions (site, warehouse, location) have their own group.
4. After creating a product, users cannot select it on sales orders in company USMF. What is missing?
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Answer: B.Products are defined once, shared, and must be released to each legal entity as a released product before they can be used in transactions.