You want to use a purchasing process with release stages (for example, first-article, preliminary series,...

To manage release stages (e.g., first-article, series) with different inspection plans in procurement, SAP QM uses:

By Assigning a Status Profile to the Quality Info Record: Procurement (B): In the quality info record (transaction QI01), you assign a status profile (defined in SPRO > QM > Environment > Status Management). This profile controls stages (e.g., "First Article," "Series") via statuses, and each status can link to a specific inspection plan via dynamic modification or inspection type settings. This is the standard approach for supplier-material-specific release processes.

Business Partner (A): Status profiles here are for partner management, not QM inspection stages.

Inspection Type Settings in Customizing (C): Inspection types (e.g., 01) don’t use status profiles directly in Customizing.

Inspection Type in Material Master (D): The material master’s QM view doesn’t supportstatus profiles for this purpose.

Thus, "By assigning a status profile to the quality info record: Procurement" is the correct answer.References: SAP Help Portal - "Quality Info Record and Release Stages"; SAP S/4HANA QM Customizing Guide - "Status Profiles".