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the IBM token-ring protocol and manufacturing automated protocol
(MAP) for plant floor communications. MAP is the evolving plant
floor communication industry standard, adopted by the International
Standards Organization for communications among systems pro-
vided by different vendors.
5.8.4 Managing Data in the CIM Environment
The second building block of a CIM architecture incorporating sensors
and control technology is data management. This includes how data
are defined, how different data elements are related, where data are
stored, and who has access to that data. Data management is particu-
larly critical in today’s industrial environment since many different
databases, formats, and storage and access techniques are available.
Standards are evolving. For example, Structured Query Language
(SQL) provides a medium for relational database applications and for
users to access a database. Unfortunately, a significant amount of
data exists today in other database technologies that are not accessi-
ble by current standards.
Data management defines and records the location of the data
created and used by the enterprise’s business functions. Data man-
agement also means enabling users to obtain the data needed with-
out having to know where the data are located.
Relationships among several data elements must be known if
data are to be shared by users and applications. In addition, other
data attributes are important in sharing data. These include the type
of data (text, graphic, image), their stat (working, review, completed),
and their source (person, application, or machine).
In CIM with sensory architecture, data management can be
accomplished through three individual storage functions: (1) the data
repository, (2) the enterprise data storage, and (3) the local data files.
Some of the key data management functions—the repository, for
example—are already being implemented by the consolidated design file
(CDF) established through the IBM Data Communication Service (DCS).
The consolidated design file operates on a relational database and
is built on SQL. One example of its use is as an engineering database
to integrate CAD/CAM applications with the business needs of the
engineering management function. This environment, IBM’s DCS/
CDF, provides the following repository functions:

• Transforming data to a user-selected format
• Storing CAD/CAM data
• Adding attributes to CAD/CAM data
• Enabling users to query data and attributes

DCS/CDF also provides communications functions to transfer
data between the repository and CAD/CAM applications (Fig. 5.16).