Usually, QDL1 can only create the quality level at inspection lot level.
Hence, if you set the DMR at characteristic level, and when you try create the quality level a characteristic level with QDL1, system will issue an error message:
Solution:
You have to create a quality level records, then you can use QDL2 to maintain the quality level a characteristic level .
SAP provide note 136395 Creation/transfer of Q-levels is not possible to address this issue.
QDL2