1. A configuration management database method executable by a programmable control device, the method comprising: instantiating, by a programmable control device, a configuration item object, the configuration item object having a plurality of attributes and a flag attribute; setting one or more of the plurality of attributes to identify an asset; setting the flag attribute to identify the configuration item object as a reference instance configuration item object; associating a plurality of assets with the reference instance configuration item object; and storing the reference instance configuration item object in a configuration management data store; wherein the reference instance configuration item object represents a plurality of assets, one asset for each of the associated plurality of assets.