Abstract: An automated machine program generator (10) and a method for optimizing the manufacture of articles. The automated machine program generator (10) includes a data repository editor (11), a table parameter editor (13), and an optimizer editor (14). The data repository editor (11) collects data from various sources. The data is transformed and placed in a table (12). If necessary, the data in the table (12) is modified by the table parameter editor (13). The modified data is optimized by the optimizer editor (14) and transferred to a piece of equipment (15) for manufacturing the article.

Abstract: A file based and highly available hybrid database using resident databases (16, 17, 18) on data control computer systems (31, 32, 33) which are linked together as part of a computer network (29). Resident databases (16, 17, 18) are selected to store master file groups (19,21,22,23) the information being copied to other resident databases (16, 17, 18). All database transactions are controlled by interacting client (11) and server (12, 13, 14) processes using the computer network (29) to copy a master file group (19, 21, 22, 23) to the client system for use and then restores the master file group (19, 21, 22, 23) to the appropriate master database (16, 17, 18).