Join the Innovation in Adaptive Automation for HMLV Production
The future of manufacturing is flexible, intelligent, and sustainable—and we invite you to shape it with us.

PROFACTOR is pleased to announce a call for contributions to the Research Topic in the journal Frontiers in Robotics and AI:
“Flexible and Sustainable Robotic Process Automation for High-Mix Low-Volume Production.”
The topic is now open for submissions.
Manuscript Summary Deadline: August 7, 2025
Full Manuscript Deadline: November 25, 2025

About the Research Topic

Manufacturing environments today face growing demands for flexibility and adaptability—especially in High-Mix Low-Volume (HMLV) production. This Research Topic seeks novel approaches in robotic process automation (RPA) that enable rapid setup, intelligent adaptation, and sustainable deployment. These are particularly critical for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) addressing diverse and shifting production needs.

Areas of Focus:

  • Programming by Demonstration (PbD): Streamlining robot programming for non-expert users

  • Knowledge Transfer Techniques: Adapting robotic processes across varied but geometrically similar products

  • Sustainable Automation: Integrating robotics and AI with environmentally responsible strategies for industrial transformation

Key Objectives:

  • Intuitive Programming by Demonstration (PbD): Lowering the barrier to automation by enabling easy and task-diverse robot programming

  • Knowledge Transfer Across Products and Contexts: Exploring effective methods for transferring robotic process knowledge between similar yet distinct production tasks

  • Automated Process Planning: Advancing computational tools for fast, geometry-aware task planning and deployment in robotics

Suggested Submission Topics:

  • Robotic process transfer for surface finishing (e.g., furniture, molds, automotive components)

  • Adaptive handling of printed circuit boards and battery cells

  • Rapid robot reconfiguration for variable product formats

  • Environmental and economic sustainability in HMLV automation

  • Human-in-the-loop strategies for inclusive, intelligent manufacturing

We welcome interdisciplinary contributions that bridge robotics, artificial intelligence, and sustainability to advance flexible automation in HMLV production environments.

Submit Your Contribution:

Be part of the shift toward next-generation robotic manufacturing. Submit your work to “Flexible and Sustainable Robotic Process Automation for High-Mix Low-Volume Production” and help drive smarter, more adaptive, and sustainable automation forward.