---
title: "Material type and subtype"
slug: "material-type-and-subtype"
description: "Create, approve, and activate material types and subtypes in Life Sciences to support compliance, audit trails, and product control."
updated: 2026-06-25T10:24:07Z
published: 2026-06-25T10:24:07Z
canonical: "docs.staedean.com/material-type-and-subtype"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.staedean.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Material type and subtype

Material types and subtypes are used to classify items. Only approved and active material types and subtypes can be associated with a released product.

Material types can be created, approved, and activated in the **Material types** form (**Product information management > Setup > Material types > Material types**). The following information can also be specified:

- **Product number prefix:** Prefix for the [product number generation](/life-sciences/docs/advanced-product-numbering) in case this is based on a product number group, and the **Material type** parameter in the **Product number groups** form is enabled.
- **Material type group:** Used to aggregate material types with common properties (for example, material types including active ingredients or excipients) that will be subject to the same cleaning rules.

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> [Cleaning](/life-sciences/docs/cleaning) is part of the Life Sciences Life Sciences Weighing and Dispensing module.

Material subtypes associated with the different material types can be created, approved, and activated in the **Material subtypes** form (**Product information management** > **Setup** > **Material types** > **Material subtypes**).

Users can specify if the material type and material subtype approval and activation should be secured via [electronic signature](/life-sciences/docs/electronic-signature-requirements) by enabling the **Signature required** parameter for the following requirements in the **Electronic signature requirements** form (**Organization administration > Setup > Electronic signature > Electronic signature requirements**):

- Approve material type
- Approve material subtype
- Activate material type
- Activate material subtype

Information related to the approver’s name and date of activation is also captured for audit trail purposes in the [**Database log**](/life-sciences/docs/advanced-database-logging) form.

Upon creation of a product or released product, it is possible to associate a material type to the new item by selecting it from the **Material type** dropdown menu in the **New product** and **New Released product** dialogs.

Alternatively, the material type and subtype for an item can be defined in the **General** FastTab of the **Released product details** form. Only approved and active material types and subtypes can be selected.

## Related

- [Advanced product numbering](/advanced-product-numbering.md)
- [Electronic signature requirements](/electronic-signature-requirements.md)
- [Advanced database logging](/advanced-database-logging.md)
- [Cleaning](/cleaning.md)