Master Data: Item Category

Item Category groups items so lists, reports, and imports are easier to manage.

Menu Location and Access

Open Master Data -> Item Category. The role needs item category access. Create, update, delete, and import actions depend on their own permissions.

When to Use Item Categories

Use categories for business groupings such as raw material, finished goods, spare part, packaging, asset, or consumable. A category should help users filter or understand items; avoid categories that duplicate item names.

Operational Examples

Business	Useful Categories	Why
Manufacturing	Raw Material, Packaging, Finished Goods, Spare Part.	Helps separate production inputs and outputs.
Retail warehouse	Fast Moving, Slow Moving, Display, Return.	Helps stock review and replenishment.
Maintenance stock	Electrical, Mechanical, Safety, Consumable.	Helps technicians find spare parts.

Do not create one category per item. If the category name is almost the same as the item name, the category will not help filtering or reporting.

Field Guide

Field	Meaning	Recommended Practice
Name	Category display name.	Keep it short and understandable.
Description	Extra explanation for the category.	Use it when category naming needs context.
Is Active	Whether the category can be selected.	Deactivate old categories when users should stop using them.

Create a Category

1. Open Master Data -> Item Category.
2. Select Create Item Category.
3. Fill Name and Description if needed.
4. Keep Is Active enabled when the category can be used.
5. Save and confirm it appears in the list.

Update or Deactivate a Category

Open the category from the list, change name, description, or active status, then save. If a category should no longer be selected, set it inactive instead of changing its meaning.

Import Categories

Use Manage -> Import -> Import Item Category for bulk category setup. Import categories before importing items.

Common Problems

Problem	Fix
Category does not appear in Item form	Confirm the category is active and user has access.
Import fails	Check required columns and duplicate names.
Users keep selecting the wrong category	Rename it clearly or set old categories inactive.