What is the purpose and history of the FAA's tracking system for handbooks and manuals? Handbooks and manuals published by the Federal Aviation Administration usually have a designation attached to them. For example, the current Instrument Flying Handbook is designated FAA-H-8083-15B at the time I am writing this.

One apparent purpose of this system is to keep track of what particular version of is current.

What is this designator's proper name? What is the history of this scheme and can anyone shed light on any other purposes it may have?
I must have too much time on my hands, because I actually looked this up in the handbook on handbooks that aeroalias referenced.


  5.1.2.3 Document identifiers
  
  The identifier for handbooks shall be placed in the upper right corner
  of the first page. The identifier as assigned by ATO-W Enterprise CM
  shall include the letters “FAA” followed by a hyphen, then any
  combination of numbers, letters, or dashes. It shall not include any
  other symbols.
  
  5.1.2.7 Handbook numbering.
  
  FAA handbooks are assigned traceability numbers by Enterprise
  Configuration Management organization following endorsement by the
  Systems Engineering organization. This alphanumeric designator will
  utilize the following format: FAA- HDBK-(XXX), where "XXX" equals a
  three digit number. The handbook number is placed in the uppermost
  right corner of the cover page.


Section 5.1.2.5.1 Superseding revisions doesn’t appear to be followed in any of the FAA handbooks I have.