The document describes the purpose of various inventory-related tables in Oracle R12, including tables for storing information about ABC analysis (MTL_ABC_CLASSES), item categories (MTL_CATEGORIES_B), cross-references (MTL_CROSS_REFERENCES), demand (MTL_DEMAND), inventory transactions (MTL_MATERIAL_TRANSACTIONS), physical inventories (MTL_PHYSICAL_INVENTORIES), reservations (MTL_RESERVATIONS), serial numbers (MTL_SERIAL_NUMBERS), subinventories (MTL_SECONDARY_INVENTORIES), and system items (MTL_SYSTEM_ITEMS_B). It provides a brief 1

1. Oracle R12 Inventory - Table name details with description
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Table Name Purpose
MTL_ABC_CLASSES
MTL_ABC_CLASSES contains information about
ABC Classes. Each row in this table defines an ABC
Class.
An ABC Class is a category under which items with
similar metrics are put together. The Compile ABC
Analysis form allows the user to specify the
criterion to be used for defining such metrics. A
given ABC Class can be used in more than one ABC
Group, but not more than once in a given group.
MTL_ABC_COMPILES
MTL_ABC_COMPILES stores information about
each item within an ABC compile. Each
row includes an item's sequence number relative
to other items within the given compile, based on
the compile criteria defined in
MTL_ABC_COMPILE_HEADERS. Each row also
contains an item's compile quantity, compile value,
cumulative quantity, and cumulative value. Oracle
Inventory uses this information to provide an
ordered sequence of items, to which the user can
then assign an ABC Class.
MTL_CATEGORIES_B
MTL_CATEGORIES_B is the code combinations
table for item categories. Items are grouped into
categories within the context of a category set to
provide flexible grouping schemes.
The item category is a key flexfield with a flex code
of MCAT. The flexfield structure identifier is also
stored in this table to support the ability to define
more than one flexfield structure (multi-flex).
Item categories now support multilingual category
description. MLS is implemented with a pair of
tables: MTL_CATEGORIES_B and
MTL_CATEGORIES_TL. MTL_CATEGORIES_TL table
holds translated Description for Categories.
MTL_CATEGORY_SETS_B
MTL_CATEGORY_SETS_B contains the entity
definition for category sets. A category set is a
categorization scheme for a group of items. Items
may be assigned to different categories in different

2. category sets to represent the different groupings
of items used for different purposes.
MTL_CC_SERIAL_NUMBERS
This table is used to store serial numbers
associated to a cycle count entry involving a
serialized item. This table is used only when the
user has selected the serial control option "Count:
Multiple Per Request" in the corresponding cycle
count header.
MTL_CC_SUBINVENTORIES
MTL_CC_SUBINVENTORIES stores all the
subinventories that are to be considered for cycle
counting when the scope of the cycle count is at
subinventory level. The table is not used if the cycle
count is at organization level.
Oracle Inventory uses this information in the
automatic
scheduling feature of cycle counting and for
validation purpose when schedule requests are
manually entered.
MTL_CROSS_REFERENCES
MTL_CROSS_REFERENCES is used to assign cross-
references to items. The cross reference type code
identifies the cross-referencing identification
system being used. The cross-reference identifies
the specific relationship between the item and the
other identification system. This can include
references to an old item identification scheme, to
supplier item identification, etc. Each inventory
item can be assigned any number of cross-
references for any number of cross-
reference types.
MTL_CROSS_REFERENCE_TYPES
MTL_CROSS_REFERENCE_TYPES is used to define
cross-reference types. The cross reference type
provides context information for cross-referencing
from an item to some other identification system
that is relevant. This can include references to an
old item identification scheme, to supplier item
identifications, etc. Each inventory item can be
assigned cross-references using any number of
cross-reference types.
MTL_CUSTOMER_ITEMS
MTL_CUSTOMER_ITEMS stores customer item
information for a specific customer. Each record
can be defined at one of the following
levels: Customer, Address Category, and Address.
The customer item definition is organization
independent.
MTL_DEFAULT_CATEGORY_SETS
MTL_DEFAULT_CATEGORY_SETS stores the
identifier of the category set that acts as the

3. default for a particular functional area. This
information is used to determine the mandatory
category sets for an item. It is also used to provide
a default category set for forms and reports that
require a category set field value or parameter.
.
The category set for a given functional area is
uaranteed to have a category assignment for each
item defined for use by the functional area. For
example, the category set for the Inventory
functional area is mandatory (and defaults) for all
items defined as Inventory items.
This ensures that for a given functional area, there
will be a category set that contains all of the items
for that functional area.
MTL_DEMAND
This table stores demand and reservation
information used in Available To Promise, Planning
and other Manufacturing functions. There are
three major row types stored in the table:
Summary Demand rows,
Open Demand Rows, and Reservation Rows.
MTL_DESCRIPTIVE_ELEMENTS
MTL_DESCRIPTIVE_ELEMENTS stores the
descriptive element definitions for an item catalog
group. Descriptive elements are defining properties
used to describe in the catalog group.
MTL_ITEM_ATTRIBUTES
MTL_ITEM_ATTRIBUTES table stores information
on item attributes. Each row in the table
corresponds to an attribute. The table stores the
attribute name, the corresponding user-friendly
name seen by the
users, and the kind of validation enforced on the
attribute.
MTL_ITEM_CATALOG_GROUPS_B
MTL_ITEM_CATALOG_GROUPS_B is the code
combinations table for item catalog groups.
An item catalog group consists of items that can be
described by the same set of descriptive elements
or item properties. When an item is associated
with an item catalog group, the item inherits the
descriptive elements for that group which then
behave like additional item attributes. The user can
specify values for the descriptive
elements and can use that information to search
for items using the Item Search window.
MTL_ITEM_CATEGORIES
MTL_ITEM_CATEGORIES stores inventory item
assignments to categories within a category set.
For each category assignment, this table stores the
item, the category set, and the category. Items

4. always may be assigned to multiple category sets.
However, depending on the Multiple Assignments
Allowed attribute value in a given category set
definition, an item can be assigned to either many
or only one category in that category set.
MTL_ITEM_LOCATIONS
MTL_ITEM_LOCATIONS is the definition table for
stock locators. The associated attributes describe
which subinventory this locator belongs to, what
the locator physical capacity is, etc..
The locator is a key flexfield. The Flexfield Code is
MTLL.
MTL_ITEM_LOC_DEFAULTS
MTL_ITEM_LOC_DEFAULTS contains the optional
default locators for shipping
and receivingpurposes. The LOCATOR_ID and
SUBINVENTORY_CODE
identify the exact locator/subinventory which one
wishes to have as default. The DEFAULT_TYPE
indicates whether it is the default shipping or
receiving subinventory/locator. Also see
MTL_ITEM_SUB_DEFAULTS.
MTL_ITEM_REVISIONS_B
MTL_ITEM_REVISIONS stores revision levels for an
inventory item. When an item is defined a starting
revision record is written out to this table, so every
item will at least have one starting revision.
The presence of an engineering change notice code
in this table indicates that the engineering system
issued the revision through the implementation
process. Along with the engineering change order,
an implementation date and initiation date will be
stored.
MTL_ITEM_STATUS
MTL_ITEM_STATUS is the definition table for
material status codes. Status code is a required
item attribute. It indicates the status of an item,
i.e., Active, Pending, Obsolete.
The status optionally controls several 'function
controlling' item attributes (status attributes) and
can be used to disable the item from being used by
the various application products.
The values of the individual status attributes
associated with an item status are stored in
MTL_STATUS_ATTRIBUTE_VALUES.
MTL_ITEM_SUB_DEFAULTS
MTL_ITEM_SUB_DEFAULTS contains the list of
optional default shipping and receiving
subinventories for items in an organization. This

5. information is used by Oracle Order Management,
Oracle Shipping Execution, and Oracle Purchasing
respectively. DEFAULT_TYPE indicates whether the
subinventory is meant for default shipping or
receiving.
MTL_ITEM_SUB_INVENTORIES
MTL_ITEM_SUB_INVENTORIES maintains a listing
of subinventories assigned to an inventory or
engineering item.
These subinventories make up the list of valid
subinventories when transacting this specific item
and the user has specified (in the master window)
that the item must use subinventories restricted to
a pre-defined list.
MTL_ITEM_TEMPLATES
MTL_ITEM_TEMPLATES is the definition table for
item templates. It contains the user-defined name
(TEMPLATE_NAME) and description
(DESCRIPTION).
You can use a template to set certain item
attributes. When you apply a template to an item,
the enabled item attributes are propagated to the
item. You may apply several different templates to
an item to
achieve a layering of attributes.
MTL_ITEM_TEMPL_ATTRIBUTES
MTL_ITEM_TEMPL_ATTRIBUTES stores the
attributes and attribute values for item templates.
When a template is created, a row is inserted for
each available item attribute. The user can then
specify values for and enable each template
attribute for later use. When the template is
applied to an item, the enabled attribute values are
propagated to the item.
MTL_LOT_NUMBERS
MTL_LOT_NUMBERS stores the definition and
expiration date of all lot numbers in inventory.
Since the primary key consists of LOT_NUMBER,
ORGANIZATION_ID, and INVENTORY_ITEM_ID, a lot
number could exist in more than one organization
or for different items.
MTL_MATERIAL_STATUSES_B
MTL_MATERIAL_STATUSES_B is the base table for
the inventory statuses. It contains all the attributes
which are not translated and don't vary by
language. The defined status can be assigned to
Subinventory, locator, lot and serial to restrict
certain transaction types.

6. MTL_MATERIAL_TRANSACTIONS
MTL_MATERIAL_TRANSACTIONS stores a record of
every material transaction or cost update
performed in Inventory.
MTL_TXN_REQUEST_HEADERS
This table stores all of the move order headers. The
headers contain all information which pertains to
entire move orders, including the transaction type
of the move order, the move order type, the move
order status, and the request number of the move
order.
MTL_TXN_REQUEST_LINES
The table MTL_TXN_REQUEST_LINES stores all of
the move order lines. The lines are requests to
move some quantity of an item from a source
location to a destination location or account. Each
move order line must be tied to a specific move
order header.
When a line is detailed or pick released, the
quantity detailed is updated appropriately and
transaction lines are created in
MTL_MATERIAL_TRANSACTIONS_TEMP. When the
transaction lines are transacted, the quantity
delivered is updated.
MTL_ONHAND_QUANTITIES
It stores quantity on hand information by control
level and location.
MTL_PARAMETERS
MTL_PARAMETERS maintains a set of default
options like general ledger accounts; locator, lot,
and serial controls; inter-organization options;
costing method; etc. for each organization defined
in Oracle Inventory.
MTL_PHYSICAL_INVENTORIES
MTL_PHYSICAL_INVENTORIES contains certain
user-defined options for a physical inventory,
including the approvals required, subinventory
scope (all or a subset specified in
MTL_PHYSICAL_SUBINVENTORIES),
tolerances, and whether tags may be created in the
Physical Inventory Counts window or whether they
must be pre-generated.
MTL_PHYSICAL_SUBINVENTORIES
MTL_PHYSICAL_SUBINVENTORIES specifies which
subinventories are involved in a physical inventory
when the physical inventory does not include all
subinventories. One row per subinventory per
physical
inventory.
MTL_RESERVATIONS
This table stores reservation information. Each
record is a reservation that ties an
item/organization combination with a demand
source and a supply source. Demand source

7. information comprises demand source type (Sales
Order, Account, Account Alias, Inventory), demand
source header, demand source line and demand
source name. Supply source information comprises
supply source type (Inventory, WIP jobs), supply
source header, supply source line, supply source
name and inventory controls (revision, lot,
subinventory, locator).
MTL_SALES_ORDERS
MTL_SALES_ORDERS stores Inventory's local
definition of sales orders.
MTL_SECONDARY_INVENTORIES
MTL_SECONDARY_INVENTORIES is the definition
table for the subinventory. A subinventory is a
section of inventory, i.e., raw material, finished
goods, etc. Subinventories are assigned to items (in
a many to one relationship), indicating a list of valid
places where this item will physically exist in
inventory.
Other attributes include general ledger accounts,
demand picking order, locator type, availability
type, and reservable type.
MTL_SECONDARY_LOCATORS
MTL_SECONDARY_INVENTORIES is the definition
table for the subinventory. A subinventory is a
section of inventory, i.e., raw material, finished
goods, etc. Subinventories are assigned to items (in
a many to one relationship), indicating a list of valid
places where this item will physically exist in
inventory.
Other attributes include general ledger
accounts, demand picking
order, locator type, availability type, and reservable
type.
You can also specify whether this subinventory is
an expense or asset subinventory
(ASSET_INVENTORY), or whether quantities are
tracked (QUANTITY_TRACKED).
MTL_SERIAL_NUMBERS
MTL_SERIAL_NUMBERS stores the definition and
current status of all serial numbers in Oracle
Inventory. These serial numbers are also used in
other areas of Oracle Manufacturing.
A serial number can have one of four statuses:
- Defined but not used
- Resides in stores

8. - Issued out of stores
- Resides in intransit
MTL_SYSTEM_ITEMS_B
MTL_SYSTEM_ITEMS_B is the definition table for
items. This table holds the definitions for inventory
items, engineering items, and purchasing items.
You can specify item-related information in fields
such as:
Bill of Material, Costing, Purchasing, Receiving,
Inventory, Physical attributes, General Planning,
MPS/MRP Planning, Lead times, Work in Process,
Order Management, and Invoicing.
You can set up the item with multiple segments,
since it is implemented as a flexfield. Use the
standard 'System Items' flexfield that is shipped
with the product to configure your item flexfield.
The flexfield code is MSTK.
The primary key for an item is the
INVENTORY_ITEM_ID and ORGANIZATION_ID.
Therefore, the same item can be defined in more
than one organization.
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