The purpose of the Asset Management Function is to provide resources and expertise to support the acquisition, in-service support and disposal of the physical assets required by the organization. It provide the inputs to asset planning, taking a role in major acquisitions and developments and providing the systems and facilities needed to support assets throughout their life. Asset management is distinct from operations, and does not usually involve the direct design or building of the assets themselves. It is also normally distinct from maintenance, but the technical services functions which support maintenance are part of asset management.