Q1 – How many levels are there in the Commodity Code hierarchy?

• A – 1
• B – 2
• C – 3
• D – 4

Answer – B

There are two levels Commodity Group (level 1) and the Commodity Codes that belong to the Commodity Group (level 2).

Q2 – What are the three main reasons for using Commodity Groups and Codes?

• A – They are mandatory fields when creating an item
• B – They appear on Item lookups and are used for searching
• C – They are used to default GL segment values
• D – Vendors sometimes require the Commodity Code to be referenced on a PO line
• E – They are used for analysis of spend

Answer – B, C, E

• B – They do appear on Item Select Value lookups.
• C – They are used to provide a part of the GL Debit Account, the Resource Code.
• E – They are used in reporting and there are some standard Commodity based reports

They are optional fields, not mandatory. While there is a standard code, UNSPSC, I doubt it is asked for on a PO line.

Q3 – What object level are Commodity Groups and Codes defined at?

• A – System
• B – Item Set
• C – OrganizationA structural element of a Maximo database which is used for data sharing. More
• D – SiteA structural element of a Maximo database that is used for data separation. More

Answer – B

Commodity Groups and Commodity Codes are defined against an Item Set and are shared across the organizations belonging to the Item Set.

Q4 – What is the standard field type and width of Commodity Codes?

• A – UPPER 4
• B – UPPER 6
• C – UPPER 8
• D – UPPER 10
• E – INTEGER

Answer – C

Commodity Codes are defined as UPPER 8 in Maximo. Standard UNSPSC (United Nations Standard Products and Services Codes) are 8 digits at the 4th level.

Q5 – What is the reason for a Commodity Code not having the same value as an existing Commodity Group?

Answer 

Commodity Groups and Commodity Codes share the same table COMMODITIES and share the same unique index COMMODITY, ITEMSETID.

Q6 – What is the checkbox found on a Commodity Group and Commodity Code?

• A – Is Active?
• B – Use with Tools?
• C – Service?
• D – Hazardous Items?

Answer – C

Commodity Groups and Commodity Codes can be marked as Service. If a Commodity Group is marked as Service then all of its Commodity Codes will also be marked as Service.

There is no status on the Commodities table and while commodities could be dangerous that is handled through the Hazard field associated with an Item/Organization. Used with Tools was a red herring.

Q7 – True or False. The Commodity Group and Commodity Code will be found in the two receiving tables for Material Receipts and Service Receipts?

Answer – True

Both Commodity Group and Commodity Code exist in the MATRECTRANS and SERVRECTRANS tables, and they are displayed in the Material Receipts tab of the Receiving application.

The two fields exist on MR, PR, RFQ, PO and Invoice lines, which provides a good basis for reporting and analysis across the purchasing documents.

Q8 – What other application in Maximo has a two level hierarchy and shares the same table as Commodity Groups and Codes?

• A – Failure CodesFailure Codes exist as part of a Failure Hierarchy and are a Failure Class, a Problem, Cause or Remedy Code. More
• B – Component Codes
• C – Service Groups
• D – CI Types

Answer – C

Service Groups also shares the COMMODITIES object/table, it is used as the reporting structure for Service Management.

A Service Group or Service Code cannot have the same value as a Commodity Group or Commodity Code, you will have a unique index error. Consequently it really is a good idea to use the numeric UNSPSC codes for Commodity Groups/Codes leaving Service Groups and Service Codes to be alphanumeric.

Q9 – What is the Service Type when you create a Commodity Group or Commodity Code?

• A – Provide
• B – Source
• C – Procure
• D – Both 

Answer – C

It is Procure. The three Service Types are Procure, Provide and Both.

You procure items, you provide services, therefore Service Groups and Service Codes default to Provide. If you want the same code (with the same description) to work in both areas, then in Service Groups application change the service type to BOTH.

Q10 – In which two applications will you find the Associate Commodities action?

• A – Assets
• B – Service Level Agreements
• C – People
• D – Warranty Contracts
• E – Companies

Answer – C and E

Commodities can be associated with a Person, for example a buyer has a range of items they procure.

A Company (vendor) provides items from different commodity groups or codes.

Purchase, Lease/Rental and Master Contracts all have an Associate Commodities action, but it is not available on a Warranty Contract.

You can associate Service Groups and Service Codes to Assets and the same two fields will be found on a SLA.