Database access machine for factory automation

A cell controlling computer (40) is interfaced to a group of station-level computers (10, 11, 57, 58, 59, 60) through an access machine (ACCESS MACHINE 1, ACCESS MACHINE 2) which stores a database (62) of data that is continually being updated from the station-level computers (10, 11, 57, 58, 59, 60) in response to conditions on machines and industrial process equipment. The access machine (ACCESS MACHINE 1, ACCESS MACHINE 2) communicates with the station-level computers (10, 11, 57, 58, 59, 60) using messages addressed to each respective station. The access machine (ACCESS MACHINE 1, ACCESS MACHINE 2) communicates with the cell controlling computer (40) through database operations messages that allow data to be communicated for many stations at once. During on-line reconfiguration, new data items in the station-level computers (10, 11, 57, 58, 59, 60) can be added to the database (62) in the access machine (ACCESS MACHINE 1, ACCESS MACHINE 2) using other database opera­tions messages.