a dedicated pair of wires for the control of each device the number of devices can easily exceed 100 in conventional configurations because the i o communication methods utilized by these pneumatic manifolds may be digital industry standards the control system can also communicate via wireless networks and totally eliminate the need for any form of cabling between the control system and the devices that they control this is an important feature relative to on going plant maintenance due to the tendency of wires and connections to work loose from vibrations temperature changes and the like while also enhancing lightning protection it is within the scope of the present invention to use either analog or digital communications protocols or each in conjunction with another exemplary digital industry standard communication protocols that may be used with aspects of the invention include ethernet i o devicenet controlnet profibus remote i o rio or any other adaptable communications protocol as discussed above each pneumatic manifold may be coupled to one or more pneumatic devices in preferred embodiments input devices 116 may include devices that are read output devices 118 may include devices that can be turned on and off relay devices 120 may include devices that a pneumatic valve may activate such as horns and lights some devices may include electrical relays or electronic i o units that are commercially available from many vendors including allen bradley milwaukee wis fig2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary preparation method in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention in a process 200 utilizing an apparatus in accordance with the present invention the manufacturing process is automatically calculated and initiated by the quantifying of a first ingredient.