Patent ID: 7117169

Claim:
A computer implemented method for ordering and tracking components required to assemble an asset for use in a particular data center comprising a plurality of assets, the method comprising: creating an asset record for the asset designated for assembly, wherein the asset is comprised of a plurality of components, wherein creating the asset record comprises generating an asset identifier for the asset that is unique within the data center and distinguishes the asset from the plurality of assets in the data center; creating a purchase order for each of the plurality of components of the asset, the asset identifier for the asset being generated based on the created purchase orders; storing the asset record and purchase order information in a management database, wherein the stored purchase order information is associated with the asset record in the management database; upon receiving the plurality of components along with information regarding the purchase orders of the components, retrieving and updating the asset record in the management database using the received purchase order information to reflect that the plurality of components have been received; and determining whether all components required for assembling the asset have been received, wherein each of the method steps are performed automatically, without human intervention.