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WBF Publishes Batch Manufacturing
Markup Languages
WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ - The World Batch
Forum (WBF), a worldwide, non-commercial organization dedicated to
the advancement of batch process manufacturing, today released two
sets of XML markup languages based on the ANSI/ISA S88 and S95
standards for batch control and business-to-manufacturing data
exchange.
 WBF
officials said the markup languages would help streamline and
simplify batch recipe development and data integration, generating
substantial cost benefits for users. The WBF released the languages
at its annual North American Conference, being held at the Woodcliff
Lake Hilton.
A WBF working group representing
approximately a dozen leading automation vendors and users began
developing the markup languages in 2001. In addition, the documents
were reviewed and commented upon many of the nearly 100 members of
the working group's e-mail list.
The WBF will make the languages
available, free-of-charge, to all vendors and users that wish to use
them, said Dave Emerson, chairman of organization's XML Working
Group. They will be available for download from the organization's
website, www.wbf.org
"Our only requirement is that
they note that they are using the languages courtesy of the World
Batch Forum," Dave Emerson said.
Emerson, a senior systems architect
with Yokogawa, explained that the markup languages are intended to
provide vendors and users with an easier way to standardize their
manufacturing procedures and to facilitate the exchange of data with
enterprise management systems, such as enterprise resource planning
(ERP), product lifecycle management (PLM) and supply chain
management (SCM) systems.
"Because the languages are based
on industry standards, including Extensible Markup Language (XML),
they represent a relatively simple, straightforward way to integrate
systems from multiple vendors," Emerson said.
The ANSI/ISA S88 standard defines
terminology specific to batch control systems, a standard data
structure batch control language, and a standard batch control
architecture. The WBF's S88-based markup language - called the Batch
Markup Language (BatchML) - allows companies to standardize and
simplify the design of their recipes and control systems in
multi-system environments.
"Because there are many batch
control systems in the marketplace and many well-established,
user-specific procedures, we've designed BatchML to be very
flexible. Users can use as much or as little of the markup language
as they want," said Dennis Brandl, president of BR&L
Consulting and a member of the WBF committee that wrote the markup
languages.
As an example of how companies might
choose to customize BatchML for its own use, Emerson pointed to the
length of Batch Identification numbers as an example.
"Every company has its own way
of writing batch ID numbers, so being too restrictive in the markup
language would have been counterproductive. One company might allow
32-character names while another company only allows eight
characters and a third company might insist that the first few
characters of the ID number be the year. The markup language allows
companies to customize the ID in the way they want while still
imposing restrictions internally," he said.
The ANSI/ISA-95 standard established
common terminology for the description and understanding of
manufacturing information in an enterprise. It also defined the
information exchange between the manufacturing control functions and
other enterprise functions, including data models and exchange
definitions. Brandl noted that the ISA95-based markup language -
called the Business To Manufacturing Markup Language (B2MML) --
offers a standard way for ERP and SCM systems to exchange
information with manufacturing execution systems, laboratory
information systems and control systems.
"While some enterprise system
vendors and some end-user companies are developing their own markup
languages, B2MML provides the first independent technology
implementation of the ANSI/ISA 95 standard," he said.
XML is a simple text format that
defines the way that data should be structured for particular
applications. To ensure that systems can automatically exchange data
properly, the XML specification provides for the development of
markup languages - industry-specific sets of constraints on how that
data is structured.
While many industries have developed
their own markup languages, the World Batch Forum believes its
markup languages are the first intended to facilitate batch control
and business to-manufacturing data exchange.
About World Batch Forum
The World Batch Forum, established in
1994, is a non-profit, professional organization promoting the
exchange of information on the management, operation and automation
of batch process manufacturing. Members include end-users, vendors,
consultants and academics.
In addition to hosting an annual
conference with formal presentation and technical papers, the WBF
provides organization, management, and structure to facilitate
networking among its members and sharing of knowledge and
information related to all aspects of batch processing. WBF
supplements the functions of ISA, AIChE, ISPE, CMA, and other
related professional organizations by integrating a variety of
management and technical disciplines needed to advance batch
processing knowledge and technology.
Visit our Worldwide Web site at www.wbf.org
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