St. Louis, MO—World Batch Forum recently released new versions of its two XML-based markup languages for implementing the ANSI/ISA S88 and S95 standards and its international counterparts IEC-61512 and IEC/ISO-62264, respectively. Enhancements in WBF's Batch To Manufacturing Markup Languages (B2MML), Version 2.0, and in its Batch Markup Language (BatchML), Version 2.0, include greater compatibility with popular programming tools and improved ease of use in a number of areas. WBF's schemas can be used free of charge and are available at www.wbf.org.

Many companies have adopted WBF's schemas since 2002, when the organization released initial versions of BatchML and B2MML. The languages, which were developed by committee members representing about 12 manufacturing companies and automation system suppliers, are intended to streamline and simplify batch recipe development and ERP to MES data integration. Because they are based on industry standards, including XML, they represent a simple, straightforward way to integrate systems from multiple vendors.

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 ANSI/ISA S95 standard establishes common terminology for the description and understanding of manufacturing information in an enterprise. It also defines the information exchange between the manufacturing control functions and other enterprise functions, including data models and exchange definitions.