Material Request
A Material Request is a document used to identify the requirement of a set of items (products or services) for a specific purpose within an organization.
1. Purpose of Material Request
A Material Request can be created for different operational needs:
- Purchase – When items need to be purchased.
- Material Transfer – When items are moved between warehouses.
- Material Issue – When items are issued for production or other usage.
- Manufacture – When items are to be produced.
- Subcontracting – When work is outsourced to a vendor.
- Customer Provided – When items are supplied by the customer.
2. Accessing Material Request
Home > Stock > Stock Transactions > Material Request
3. How to Create a Material Request
- Go to the Material Request list and click Add Material Request.
- Set the Required By Date.
- Select the Purpose of the request.
- Fetch items from BOM, Sales Order, or Product Bundle (optional).
- Add items and specify quantity.
- Select the required Warehouse.
- Adjust item-wise required dates if needed.
- Save and Submit the document.
4. Alternate Ways to Create Material Request
- From Sales Order based on projected quantity or order items.
- Automatically when stock reaches reorder level.
- From Production Plan for manufacturing planning.
Material Requests help track projected stock and ensure proper warehouse planning.
Material Request is optional but recommended for centralized procurement workflows.
5. Statuses
- Draft – Saved but not submitted.
- Submitted – Confirmed in the system.
- Stopped – No longer required.
- Canceled – Request voided.
- Pending – Work not completed.
- Partially Ordered – Some items ordered.
- Ordered – Fully ordered.
- Issued – Items issued for use.
- Transferred – Items moved between warehouses.
- Received – Items received in warehouse.
6. Features
6.1 Items Table
- Supports barcode-based item tracking.
- Fetches item details from Item master.
- Allows scanning items using barcode scanner.
- Warehouse and accounting details can be defined per item.
- Supports page breaks in print formats.
6.2 Warehouse Settings
You can define a default warehouse where requested items will be received.
6.3 Reference Information
Material Requests can be linked to Job Cards or Work Orders for traceability.
6.4 Printing Options
- Print using company letterhead.
- Customize print headings.
- Add terms and conditions for transactions.
6.5 After Submission
After submitting a Material Request, you can create:
- Request for Quotation
- Purchase Order
- Supplier Quotation
6.6 Automatic Material Requests
Material Requests can be auto-generated based on stock levels and reorder rules defined in Stock Settings and Item master.
7. Notes
Material Request purpose Subcontracting is available in newer ERPNext versions and allows direct creation of subcontracting orders from submitted requests.
8. Benefits
- Improves procurement planning
- Reduces stock shortages
- Enables centralized purchasing
- Enhances inventory visibility
- Supports production planning
