Two-step movement Plant to Plant

Within SAP Inventory Management, there are two methods how stock are moved between plants using a 2-step process: 

• Stock Transport Orders (UB) 

• Transfer Posting

What does 2-step mean? 

Example: Lets assume stock is moving from Plant A (Storage Location 0001) to Plant B (storage location 0002). 

Two step means that two transactions will be used to move the stock. After the first transaction, stock has left plant A but it is not yet available at Plant B. Only after the second transaction is it available for use in Plant B. 

Some reasons for using 2-step movements (and not 1 step): 

• Long time span between leaving Plant A and arriving at Plant B 

• Need to control when goods leave plant A but not received at plant B

Using Stock Transport Orders (STO) 

Steps: 

• Create a Stock Transport Order (ME21N, Purchase Order doc type UB) 

• Process Goods Issue against STO (MIGO > Goods Issue > PO) - movement type 351 

• Process Goods Receipt against STO (MIGO > Goods Receipt > PO) - movement type 101

The use of Planned Orders and Purchase Requisitions are optional. 


Using Transfer Postings (TP) 

Steps: 

• Process a Transfer Posting (MIGO > Transfer Posting) - movement type 303 

• Process a Transfer Posting (MIGO > Transfer Posting) - movement type 305

The Transfer Posting can be done with reference to a Reservation. Although this is not used a lot. 


Similarities between Stock Transport Orders (STO) and Transfer Postings (TP) 

• Both use transaction MIGO for both steps 

• After first step, goods are already reflected in receiving plant and not available

Differences between Stock Transport Orders (STO) and Transfer Postings (TP) 

• Movement types are different 351 & 101 for STO 303 & 305 for TP 

• Stock types at receiving plants are different - In Transfer (MARC-UMLMC) for TP - Stock in Transit (MARC-TRAME)for STO 

• For STO, 351 and 101 is group together where for TP there is no link between 303 and 305 

• STO requires more transactions than TP 

• STO must be configured for the sending plant / receiving plant where no plant specific configuration exists for TP 

• STO is based on Stock Transport Order (type of Purchase Order). Where no purchasing document is used for TP 

• STO can be initiated with a Planned Order or Purchase Requisition 

• Planning (MRP) can be used to initiate movements, but only STO's 

Configuration required to use STO 

Config: MM > Purchasing > Purchase Order > Set up Stock Transport Order > Assign Document Type, One-Step Procedure, Underdelivery Tolerance 

Here the source plant, destination plant and allowed STO document type is specified. 

The post is based on SAP ECC6