1. An access machine computer which is a first of a plurality of access machine computers for connection in a factory automation cell that includes a cell controlling computer and a plurality of station-level computers located at a corresponding plurality of stations, the plurality of station-level computers including at least one station-level computer controlling an industrial machine in real time, the first access machine computer comprising: an access machine module outside the cell controlling computer for communicating upstream within the factory automation cell to the cell controlling computer and for communicating downstream within the factory automation cell to a plurality of station-level computers, the access machine module including database means for storing at least a portion of a database associated with the first access machine computer, the database including data items, computer accessing the data items on a basis that is independent of the addresses which are assigned to the data items at the stations for reference by respective station-level computers; first network communication means coupled to the database means for communicating the data items associated with the first access machine computer through a first network communication link to and from the cell controlling computer via messages in which data items are stored in and retrieved from the database independent of the addresses which are assigned at the stations at which the data items are monitored or controlled; second network communication means for communicating the data items through a second network communication link to and from the station-level computers via messages which include station-related blocks of information that are related to addresses of the stations of the respective station-level computers; and database interface means interfacing the database means to the second network communication means for translating the data items between the station-related blocks of information and the station-independent organization of the database.