To provide an image forming apparatus in which: a memory having a large capacity
becomes unnecessary, and many types of information such as a type of replacement
part can be utilized for the control of an image forming apparatus or the like.
Therefore, a replacement part including a storage medium into which identification
information inherent to the replacement part is written; and an apparatus main
body having a communication unit that serves to communicate with the storage medium
of the replacement part; an information acquisition unit that, based on the identification
information obtained from the storage medium of the replacement part through the
communication unit, acquires information on the replacement part from a storage
unit provided to an element other than the replacement part; and a management unit
that manages a usage state of the replacement part in accordance with the information
on the replacement part acquired by the information acquisition unit.