---
sourceDocument: Australia Asset Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/it-asset-management

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Asset Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itam

bundleId :

    - itam

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Consumables life cycle

# Consumables life cycle {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated March 12, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

Consumables are assets that are not tracked individually, but as a group of the same
model.  
The group of consumables has one or more of the following traits.

* Same location
* Same state
* Consumed by the same asset, typically as accessories or parts
{#c_FollowLifeCycleConsumbl__ul_ucm_rwh_3p}

Some common consumable assets include mouse devices, computer keyboards, and pencils. The base
ServiceNow system includes the Consumable model
category. The first step in working with models is to create a model within the model category
for an individual consumable asset. Items such as monitors, keyboards, and mouse devices are
often tracked as consumables. Consumables cannot be pre-allocated.

Consumable assets are stored in the Consumable \[alm_consumable\] table. Consumables follow a
slightly different life cycle from other assets.

## Stages of consumables

The consumable lifecycle stages are as follows.

* On order
* In stock
* In transit
* Consumed
* In maintenance
* Retired
* Missing
{#c_FollowLifeCycleConsumbl__ul_ew1_1xh_3p}
* **[View consumable assets](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/zZ2MB3Wfl4Q6KziSZH5iOw)**   
  Consumables are tracked as a group of the same model, but you can view individual consumables in the consumable model record.
* **[Create consumable assets](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/s~WUxvIatd7maZGNCynhmw)**   
  Create a consumable to track an asset as a group of the same model.
* **[Consume consumable assets](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/3aAcsn4o8ChdE876whBhCQ)**   
  To consume consumable assets, they must have a state of In Stock and a substate of Available.
* **[Return consumable assets to stockrooms](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/M6Wg3FSABdusKuE9cPBSxA)**   
  Move a consumable asset that is in a consumed state and has completed its life cycle back to an in-stock status.
* **[Dispose of consumable assets](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/vXXwOsiuAgdNHuu~XX9Ueg)**   
  Dispose of those consumable assets that are no longer required in your stockrooms.

**Related concepts**   

* [Work with Asset and CI](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/npvkHWPCBdgmaVi3ffLr7g "Asset and configuration item (CI) management refers to creating assets, setting appropriate states and substates, synchronizing assets and CIs, managing consumables, and retiring assets.")
* [Manage various assets through asset classes](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/YeJXo9_JlGzxlSbYfgv6Yg "The default asset classes are Hardware, Software License, Consumable, Bundle, Software Entitlement, and Facility. These general classes can be used to manage various assets.")
* [Create fixed assets](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/leUA0vmpYp86l4KUD4hFDQ#c_CreatingFixedAssets "Fixed assets are containers that can hold multiple assets. Fixed assets are commonly tracked at the corporate level by a finance or accounting department, but may contain IT assets such as hardware and software.")
* [Stockrooms](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/M5aRQ2ilMruCW3qfeV30Jg "Stockrooms are places to which assets are assigned.")
* [Manage pre-allocated assets](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/bK0F2~ZJxVYVU7NaP5OA3A "Manage pre-allocated assets, which are the assets that the vendor still owns, but has agreed to store in a customer stockroom for just-in-time procurement.")
* [Manage transfer order](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/zAoPVfFVSpx7LpGOtvBebw "Manage the asset movement from one stockroom to the other using transfer order.")  
**Related reference**   

* [Use Organization Management](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/airOLdh68QQSTIzq0XUx2A#org-mgmt "The Organization Management application provides an easy way to perform such asset management tasks as updating users and adding vendors.")