TutorialKart.comIn SAP PM Tutorial, you learn how to create order types for maintenance in SAP using transaction code OIOA. A maintenance order type is a key configuration object because it controls how maintenance orders are grouped, processed, settled, and displayed in SAP PM.
How to create maintenance order types in SAP PM with OIOA
In this activity, you configure a maintenance order type in SAP Plant Maintenance. Order types are used to separate different maintenance processes such as breakdown maintenance, preventive maintenance, refurbishment, calibration, inspection, and service-related work. The order type also influences number ranges, settlement settings, screen control, and follow-up configuration used when a maintenance order is created.
For example, an organization may use one order type for emergency breakdown work, another order type for planned preventive maintenance, and another order type for refurbishment. This separation helps maintenance planners, cost controllers, and reporting users identify the purpose of each order clearly.
Where SAP PM maintenance order types are used
A maintenance order type is selected when a user creates a maintenance order manually or when an order is generated from a notification, maintenance plan, or service-related process. The same order type is then used throughout planning, scheduling, execution, confirmation, settlement, and reporting.
| SAP PM process | How the order type is used |
|---|---|
| Corrective maintenance | Repairs and breakdown work can be grouped under a dedicated order type. |
| Preventive maintenance | Maintenance plans can generate orders with the order type assigned in the plan or configuration. |
| Refurbishment | Separate order types can be used when repairable spares are refurbished and returned to stock. |
| Cost tracking | Settlement profile and controlling settings help route order costs correctly. |
| Reporting | Order type helps filter orders by maintenance business process. |
SAP IMG navigation for configuring maintenance order types
You can define maintenance order types in SAP by using the following navigation method.
| Transaction Code | OIOA |
| SAP IMG Path | SPRO > IMG > Plant Maintenance & Customer Service > Maintenance Service Processing > Maintenance and Service Order > Functions and Settings for Order types > Configure order types. |
For product documentation context, SAP also provides official learning and help content for maintenance order type configuration in SAP S/4HANA. You can refer to SAP Learning for configuring an order type and SAP Help for maintenance order processing when you need official reference material.
Prerequisites before maintaining SAP PM order types
Before you create a new order type, review the related configuration. Creating the order type alone is usually not enough for a complete maintenance order process.
- The required maintenance process is clear, such as breakdown, preventive, refurbishment, or inspection maintenance.
- The settlement profile, budget profile, and screen object to be assigned are available in configuration.
- The number range concept for maintenance orders is defined for the order type.
- The planning plant and maintenance plant assignment requirements are known.
- The business has agreed on a short four-character order type key and a clear description.
- The order type will be tested by creating a maintenance order before it is used in production processes.
Step 1: Execute transaction OIOA for SAP PM order type configuration
Execute t-code OIOA in the command field from the SAP Easy Access screen.
Step 2: Choose New Entries in the maintenance order types overview
On the Change View “Maintenance Order Types”: Overview screen, choose the New Entries button to create a new order type according to the organization requirement.
Step 3: Enter order type control fields for maintenance orders
On the New Entries screen for order types, update the required fields. The exact field behavior may vary by SAP release and configuration, but the following fields are commonly maintained for SAP PM order types.
- Order Category: The order category field is updated automatically by the SAP system. For maintenance orders, it identifies the technical order category used by SAP PM.
- Order type: Enter a four-character key that defines the maintenance order type, and maintain a meaningful description.
- Settlement Profile: Update the settlement profile, for example 40 for maintenance order settlement where this is used in your system.
- Budget Profile: Choose the appropriate budget profile from the drop-down list if budgeting is relevant for this order type.
- Screen Object: Choose the screen object key from the drop-down list. This controls the screen layout and field selection behavior for the order type.
Recommended naming approach for SAP PM maintenance order types
Use order type keys and descriptions that are easy to understand in maintenance transactions and reports. Avoid creating too many order types for small process differences because it can make reporting and configuration harder to maintain.
| Example order type | Example description | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| PM01 | Corrective maintenance order | Breakdown and repair work |
| PM02 | Preventive maintenance order | Planned maintenance from maintenance plans |
| PM03 | Refurbishment order | Repair of spare parts or assemblies |
| PM04 | Inspection maintenance order | Inspection or condition check work |
The exact keys should follow your organization naming standard. Many SAP systems use client-specific order type keys, so do not assume that another system will use the same values.
Step 4: Save the SAP maintenance order type configuration
After maintaining all required details for the order type, choose the Save icon and save the configured details. If SAP prompts for a customizing request, assign the configuration to the appropriate transport request according to your project procedure.
Configuration normally completed after creating the order type
After the order type is created in OIOA, additional settings may be required before users can create and process maintenance orders correctly. These settings depend on the maintenance process and the SAP system design.
- Number range assignment: Assign or verify the maintenance order number range for the order type.
- Plant assignment: Check whether the order type must be assigned to maintenance planning plants or maintenance plants in your configuration.
- Scheduling parameters: Maintain scheduling-related settings if the order type needs specific planning behavior.
- Settlement and costing: Confirm that the settlement profile, costing variant, and controlling settings support the intended cost flow.
- Notification integration: Verify order type usage when maintenance orders are created from notifications.
- Maintenance plan integration: Confirm that preventive maintenance plans generate the correct order type.
How to create a maintenance order after the order type is configured
After configuration, users can create a maintenance order by using standard SAP PM order transactions. The most common manual process is to create a maintenance order with a selected order type, enter the technical object, add operations or a task list, plan costs, release the order, confirm work, and settle or close it according to the business process.
| Transaction | Purpose in SAP PM |
|---|---|
| IW31 | Create maintenance order |
| IW32 | Change maintenance order |
| IW33 | Display maintenance order |
| IW38 / IW39 | List and analyze maintenance orders |
Difference between maintenance order type and maintenance plan type
Maintenance order type and maintenance plan type are often confused, but they control different parts of SAP PM. The order type controls the order processing document, while the maintenance plan type controls how preventive maintenance calls are scheduled.
| Configuration object | What it controls | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance order type | Processing, settlement, screen control, and reporting of maintenance orders | Corrective maintenance order, preventive maintenance order |
| Maintenance plan type | Preventive maintenance scheduling logic and call generation | Single cycle plan, strategy plan, multiple counter plan |
| Maintenance package table T351P | Package data used in maintenance strategies | Strategy packages such as monthly or yearly packages |
Table T351P is mainly relevant for maintenance strategy package data. It is not the main configuration table for creating a maintenance order type in OIOA.
Common SAP PM order type configuration checks
Before moving the order type configuration to a production client, check the complete maintenance order flow with realistic master data and test orders.
- The order type key and description clearly match the maintenance process.
- The order category is correct and was not manually changed incorrectly.
- The settlement profile supports the expected receiver, such as cost center, asset, or other controlling object.
- The screen object shows the required fields for planners and technicians.
- The order type can be used in IW31 to create a maintenance order without authorization or configuration errors.
- The order type works correctly when used from a maintenance notification or maintenance plan, if applicable.
- The created order can be planned, released, confirmed, technically completed, and settled in the test scenario.
SAP PM maintenance order type FAQs
How do I maintain an order type in SAP PM?
You can maintain a maintenance order type in SAP PM by using transaction code OIOA or the SPRO IMG path for configuring order types. Choose New Entries, enter the order type key and description, maintain fields such as settlement profile, budget profile, and screen object, and then save the configuration.
How do I create a maintenance order in SAP PM after configuring the order type?
Use transaction code IW31 to create a maintenance order manually. Enter the order type, technical object, planning plant, work center, operations or task list, and other required planning data. The order can then be released, executed, confirmed, and closed according to the SAP PM process.
What are common types of PM maintenance orders?
Common maintenance order types include corrective maintenance orders, preventive maintenance orders, refurbishment orders, and inspection orders. The exact order type keys and descriptions are configured by each SAP customer based on their maintenance processes.
What is the difference between order type and order category in SAP PM?
The order category is a SAP-controlled technical classification of the order. The order type is the customer-defined key used in business processing, reporting, number ranges, settlement settings, and screen control. In OIOA, the order category is normally derived by the system.
What is table T351P in SAP PM?
Table T351P stores maintenance package data for maintenance strategies. It is relevant for strategy-based preventive maintenance planning, not for the basic creation of a maintenance order type in transaction OIOA.
QA checklist for this SAP PM order type tutorial
- Confirm that transaction code OIOA is shown as the configuration transaction for maintenance order types.
- Confirm that the SAP IMG path is retained and points to order type configuration under maintenance and service orders.
- Confirm that the tutorial explains the purpose of settlement profile, budget profile, and screen object in the order type screen.
- Confirm that the article separates maintenance order types from maintenance plan types and explains why T351P is not the main OIOA configuration table.
- Confirm that post-configuration checks include IW31 testing, number range review, settlement behavior, and integration with notifications or maintenance plans.
Successfully, we have created order types for maintenance in SAP PM.