An ordering apparatus receives unit information for specifying units constituting a composite apparatus to be ordered. The ordering apparatus creates composite state information for specifying a composite state of units based on the received unit information, according to a predetermined rule. Meanwhile, the composite apparatus recognizes unit information for specifying units constituting itself, and creates composite state information based on the recognized unit information, according to the same rule as the above rule. Then, the composite state information created by the ordering apparatus and the composite state information created by the composite apparatus are compared. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a managing system capable of appropriately managing a complicated composite apparatus at the time of ordering, shipment, setup, subsequent maintenance, etc.