In SAP S/4HANA, the item category in a BOM (transaction CS01/CS02, field: Item Category) classifies components and determines their handling in production and procurement. Standard item categories include:
* Variable-size item(A): Item category "R" (Variable-Size Item) is used for components with dimensions (e.g., sheets, pipes) where quantity is calculated based on size data (entered in the Variable-Size Item Data tab). It's common in manufacturing for materials cut or sized during production.
* Preliminary item(C): Item category "V" (Preliminary Item) is a placeholder for components not yet fully specified (e.g., during design phase). It allows BOM creation to proceed, with details added later, and is valid for planning purposes.
Work item(B) is not a standard BOM item category-"L" (Stock Item) or "N" (Non-Stock Item) might apply to work-related components, but "Work Item" isn't a defined term.WBS item(D) (Work Breakdown Structure, category "W") relates to Project Systems (PS) BOMs, not standard production BOMs in PP, requiring PS integration. This is per SAP's BOM item category definitions.