An image forming apparatus is capable of specifying the type of an
occurring abnormality to a certain extent while avoiding the increasingly
complicated control that is caused when a plurality of abnormalities is
detected individually according to the presence of their respective
causes. A normal group data set, which is a collection of normal value
combinations relating to grouped information constituted by a plurality
of information of differing types, is stored in RAM or ROM serving as
information storage device of a control unit. At least two or more sets
of grouped information, including first grouped information constituted
by a plurality of different types of information, and second grouped
information constituted by a plurality of information in a different
combination to that of the first grouped information, are obtained from
the RAM, the ROM, various sensors, and an operation display unit.