Overview
A Purchase Requisition (PR) is an internal document requesting the purchasing department to procure a material or service. It is the first step in the procurement cycle and can later be converted into a Purchase Order.
Prerequisites
- Material Master exists (or you can create a free-text PR)
- Authorization for transaction ME51N
- Plant, Purchasing Group, and Account Assignment (if required) are known
Step-by-Step Process
1
Enter Transaction Code
Go to transaction ME51N (Create Purchase Requisition) and press Enter.
2
Select Document Type
- Default Document Type is usually NB (Purchase Requisition)
- Other types may exist (e.g., FO for Framework, or service PR types)
3
Enter Header Data (Optional)
- You can enter a header note or header text if needed
- Source Determination can be activated if required
4
Enter Item Details
- Material: Enter the material number (or leave blank for free-text item)
- Quantity: Enter the required quantity
- Delivery Date: Enter the date by which material is needed
- Plant: Enter the receiving plant
- Storage Location: Optional
- Purchasing Group: Enter the buyer group
- Valuation Price: System may propose; you can change it
5
Account Assignment (if required)
For non-stock materials or services, enter Account Assignment Category:
- K – Cost Center
- A – Asset
- F – Order
- P – Project (WBS)
- Then enter the corresponding Cost Center / Asset / Order / WBS Element and G/L Account
6
Source of Supply (Optional)
- You can assign a desired Vendor
- Or let the system determine the source (Info Record / Source List)
- You can also create the PR without a vendor (Purchasing will assign later)
7
Save the Purchase Requisition
Click the Save button. The system generates a unique Purchase Requisition Number.
Note down the PR number for further processing (Release Strategy / Conversion to PO).
Quick Process Flow
ME51N → Document Type NB → Material + Qty + Plant + Delivery Date → (Account Assignment) → Save
Related Transaction Codes
| T-Code | Description |
|---|---|
| ME51N | Create Purchase Requisition |
| ME52N | Change Purchase Requisition |
| ME53N | Display Purchase Requisition |
| ME54N | Release Purchase Requisition |
| ME5A | List Display of Purchase Requisitions |
| ME57 | Assign and Process Purchase Requisitions |
| ME21N | Create Purchase Order (with reference to PR) |
| ME59N | Automatic Creation of POs from PRs |
Important Notes:
- Purchase Requisitions often go through a Release Strategy (approval process) before they can be converted into a Purchase Order.
- You can convert a PR into a PO using ME21N (Create with Reference → Purchase Requisition).
- PRs can also be created automatically by MRP.
- For services, use Item Category “D” (Service) and maintain service specifications.
Helpful Tips
- Always enter a realistic Delivery Date.
- Use Account Assignment Category when the material is not stock-relevant (consumables, services, assets).
- You can create multiple items in one Purchase Requisition.
- After saving, check the release status if release strategy is active.
- Use ME5A to monitor open Purchase Requisitions.
- Purchasing department converts approved PRs into Purchase Orders using ME21N or ME57.