Model categories vs consumable models?

[6-String]

Let's assume I'm creating an power adapter consumable record, for 10 proprietary power adapters. I want to track these for inventory purposes to enable a user to scan out a quantity, and have the system notify me, and update qty in the system/record. I have a few questions:

1. When creating the consumable, what is the significance of a model category?
2. What is the significance of the consumable model?
3. How does selecting multiple model categories (when creating a new consumable model) help/hinder?
4. After creating both of these items, and attempting to create a consumable, I have to select "model" first in order to  see selectable options. Otherwise, if I select a "model category" first, "model" will return no results. Is this correct behaviour?

Thanks 

[Eric Ferrington]

1. Model Category is a high level identifier that references the Asset and Configuration item tables (via classes) where the Asset and/or Configuration item records are created.  You can have a model category linked to an asset class, a CI class or both.

A Consumable is a type of asset record that is typically a 'non-connected/monitored' object as it is not tracked by a unique identifier like serial number or asset tag. You are tracking by model, quantity and lifecycle state.  An example would be, I need to know how many power adapters or a certain model that i have purchased in total, the cost i spent on it.  I also need to know how many are consumed/in use vs. available and in stock.  Because i am tracking it as a consumable, I will never need to find power adapter #303.  When you consume a consumable asset, you are required to link it to a serialized asset (like a piece of hardware; computer, server, etc) or to a user.

2. The Consumable Model record is used to track the attributes to identify and describe a consumable object, here's a link to the attributes tracked via ServiceNow documentation

3. I would not recommend utilizing more than 1 model category for consumables, you can always report on the model, if you are a HAM customer you also get the Device Type auto-populated from the Content Library, to help identify the model.

4. When manually creating a new Asset record, either hardware or consumable, identifying the model of that asset record is always the first step/attribute to populate.

[6-String]

Thanks for this. It is very helpful!

I am an end user using who will be maintaining inventory in a facility. To get more specific, if I have various types of connectors (rj45, rj12, bnc, vga), adapters (dvi-displayport, null modem), etc., does the process below cover the right way to add in these items?

1. create consumable model
   • model category: select consumable
   • Name: adapter/connector/splitter/bnc cable, etc?
   • manufacturer: select from db
   • What is the Consumables tab for in this form?
2. create model category requirements
   • Name: user input
   • Product model class: consumable model
   • Asset class: alm_consumable
3. Create consumable asset:
   • Choose model category from db
   • Choose model from db
   • Choose stockroom from db
   • Parent (would this be a TV, if the consumable item is a remote?)

[Ed Laar1 · Accepted solution]

Hi 6-string,

Some direct answers to your questions in your use case:

For each item you have to track on qty (consumable) or on individual item (asset) a Product Model should be created: In this case for each connector and adapter a Product Model with Product Model category = Consumable should be created.

Why: To distinguish the involved item (connector / adaptor) and to track these items as consumables: Track based on item quantities.

The consumables tab in this form will give you a list of users or assets where the involved item was assigned to: Monitoring on consumables users / assets is possible in this way.

By defining stock rules (one rule for every involved Product Model in every involved Stockroom) you can automate the reordering proposal of an item in case minimum stock levels are reached. With this proposal you can decide to re-order items by using the procurement process.

Hope this helps.

Ed  

[6-String]

Love that answer. Thank you