What is the purpose of creating as asset without "Item" associated with it?

Summary

What is the purpose of creating as asset without "Item" associated with it?

Content

Hi All,

We can define an asset in the Maintenance module without specifying the Item. But once the asset is created we cannot create a work order against it. "Maintainable Asset" or "Allow Work Orders" check boxes are not available for an asset created without an Item reference. So what are these assets meant for? Where would such an asset be used?

Item field is not even editable once the asset record is saved so we cannot say that we can create asset numbers provisionally and populate Item field later. Any idea what such assets are meant to do?