Configure Phantom Assembly in SAP

What is Phantom Assembly in SAP?

Phantom Assembly in SAP refers to a special type of assembly used solely for engineering or design purposes. It is crucial in production planning but does not physically exist during the manufacturing process. This technique optimizes bill of materials (BOM) management by simplifying complex production structures.

Understanding Special Procurement Type for Phantom Assemblies

When configuring Phantom Assemblies, it’s vital to correctly set the special procurement type of a material. This setting indicates whether a material is:
  • Procured externally, or
  • Produced in-house.
The SAP system determines the special procurement key based on the Procurement Type and Special Procurement fields found in the material master record (Detail Screen: MRP 1).

Key Points About Phantom Assembly Configuration

  • The system displays the special procurement key if the BOM (Bill of Materials) is allocated to only one plant.
  • Only values relevant to the explosion type are shown for BOM items.
  • No physical production occurs for phantom assemblies during manufacturing.
  • In standard SAP, the special procurement key for Phantom Assemblies is 50.
  • During a planning run, dependent requirements for the header material are not created. Instead, they are immediately transferred to the component materials.

Visualizing Phantom Assembly in SAP

Here’s a simple BOM structure for understanding:
 
Level Design Production
0 Z Z
1 B and C B and C
2 B1 and B2 B1 and B2

Legend:
B = Phantom Assembly
Z = Finished Product
B1, B2, C = Component Materials

Example Scenario:

In production, to create product Z, you need B1, B2, and C. You do not produce B separately because it is classified as a Phantom Assembly.
Real-world example: Left and right car doors often use mirror-image parts managed as phantom assemblies.

Benefits of Configuring Phantom Assemblies Correctly

  • Streamlined production by removing unnecessary intermediate assemblies.
  • Faster MRP runs by skipping redundant dependency creation.
  • Simplified BOM management in complex manufacturing environments.
  • Cost-effective inventory handling without unnecessary stock creation.

How to Configure Phantom Assembly in SAP

To set up Phantom Assembly, follow these steps:
  1. Navigate to the Material Master (MM01/MM02).
  2. Open the MRP 1 tab.
  3. Set the Procurement Type (E - In-house production or F - External procurement).
  4. Assign the Special Procurement Key as 50 (for Phantom Assembly).
  5. Ensure the BOM structure correctly references the Phantom Assembly without requiring separate production orders.

Best Practices When Working with Phantom Assemblies

  • Use Phantom Assemblies for items used across multiple finished goods to avoid duplications.
  • Double-check BOMs to ensure Phantom items don’t generate production orders.
  • Train engineering and production teams on the significance of phantom assemblies in design and production workflows.

FAQs About Configuring Phantom Assemblies in SAP

1. What is the special procurement type for Phantom Assemblies in SAP?

The special procurement type is 50, indicating that the material is a phantom assembly and not physically manufactured.

2. Do Phantom Assemblies create production orders in SAP?

No, production orders are not created for Phantom Assemblies. Requirements pass directly to their components.

3. Why use Phantom Assemblies in manufacturing?

They simplify complex production structures, reduce redundant steps, and streamline materials planning.

4. Can Phantom Assemblies exist across multiple plants?

Typically, Phantom Assemblies are configured for single-plant BOMs. Special handling is needed if used across plants.

5. How does Phantom Assembly impact MRP runs?

MRP processing is faster because Phantom Assemblies bypass unnecessary requirement generation for the header material.

6. Is it mandatory to use Phantom Assemblies?

No, but they are highly recommended for improving efficiency in large-scale or modular production setups.

Conclusion

Configuring Phantom Assembly in SAP is a smart approach to optimize your production planning, especially for complex BOMs. It reduces workload, simplifies materials handling, and accelerates production processes without compromising engineering integrity. By correctly assigning the special procurement key 50, your operations will benefit from smoother planning runs and efficient manufacturing workflows.

Goto:
SAP MRP - Materials Requirements Planning Configuration Hints and Tips 

Back to:
SAP PP (Production Planning) Configuration Hints and Tips

Return to :-
SAP ABAP/4 Programming, Basis Administration, Configuration Hints and Tips

(c) www.gotothings.com All material on this site is Copyright.
Every effort is made to ensure the content integrity.  Information used on this site is at your own risk.
All product names are trademarks of their respective companies.  The site www.gotothings.com is in no way affiliated with SAP AG.
Any unauthorised copying or mirroring is prohibited.