Unified Manufacturing Database (UMDB)
Version 6.1 of Plant Applications introduced a Unified Manufacturing Database (UMDB) that provides access to Proficy SOA and Plant Applications data by using Aspect extensions to combine the databases. A new service provider, the MESCore Service Provider (SP) provides extensions to merge the databases along with methods for custom displays and forms. The UMDB enables you to define a plant environment in an S95 structure while providing a strict and formal definition that was not possible with Plant Applications.
You can continue to use the Plant Applications Administrator to do configuration when data is not aspected to create a UMDB. However, once aspected (linked), configuration is mostly done using the Proficy Client. For example, quality form and calculation manager functions are now available through the Proficy Client. Also, Proficy Workflow provides access to selected Plant Applications functionality and enables browsing of Plant Applications resources such as production lines and units, variables, products and events. The new architecture allows calls from the Proficy Client to access Plant Applications data and event services.