Consumables life cycle

concept australia Updated Sep 10, 2026 2 min read c_FollowLifeCycleConsumbl.md

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

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
View consumable assets
Consumables are tracked as a group of the same model, but you can view individual consumables in the consumable model record.
Create consumable assets
Create a consumable to track an asset as a group of the same model.
Consume consumable assets
To consume consumable assets, they must have a state of In Stock and a substate of Available.
Return consumable assets to stockrooms
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
Dispose of those consumable assets that are no longer required in your stockrooms.

Parent Topic:Using Base Asset Management

Related topics

Work with Asset and CI

Manage various assets through asset classes

Create fixed assets

Stockrooms

Manage pre-allocated assets

Manage transfer order

Use Organization Management

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---
title: Consumables life cycle
description: Consumables are assets that are not tracked individually, but as a group of the same model.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/it-asset-management/asset-management/c\_FollowLifeCycleConsumbl.html
release: australia
product: Asset Management
classification: asset-management
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 2
breadcrumb: [Use, Base Asset Management, Common applications, Asset Management]
---

# Consumables life cycle

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

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

-   **[View consumable assets](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-asset-management/asset-management/t_ViewingConsumableAssets.md)**  
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://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-asset-management/asset-management/t_CreatingConsumableAssets.md)**  
Create a consumable to track an asset as a group of the same model.
-   **[Consume consumable assets](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-asset-management/asset-management/t_ConsumingConsumableAssets.md)**  
To consume consumable assets, they must have a state of **In Stock** and a substate of **Available**.
-   **[Return consumable assets to stockrooms](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-asset-management/asset-management/return-consumables.md)**  
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://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-asset-management/asset-management/dispose-consumables.md)**  
Dispose of those consumable assets that are no longer required in your stockrooms.

**Parent Topic:**[Using Base Asset Management](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-asset-management/asset-management/using-asset-management.md)

**Related topics**  


[Work with Asset and CI]()

[Manage various assets through asset classes]()

[Create fixed assets]()

[Stockrooms]()

[Manage pre-allocated assets]()

[Manage transfer order]()

[Use Organization Management]()