Innovative Factory Systems
AI for the Human-Centered Production of Tomorrow
The Innovative Factory Systems (IFS) Research Department at DFKI develops intelligent, adaptive, and sustainable production solutions for the industry of the future. In a unique, realistic model factory, we collaborate with industry and academic partners to research and test new technologies for connected, modular, and human-centered production.
Our goal: Production systems that learn on their own, adapt flexibly, and provide optimal support for people.
What we do
We combine artificial intelligence, automation technology, and industrial practice to create scalable solutions for real-world production environments.
From the initial feasibility analysis through AI model development to integration into production facilities, we support companies throughout the entire innovation process.
Our solutions are used in the following sectors, among others:
• Automotive industry
• Machinery and plant engineering
• Textile production
• Commercial vehicle manufacturing
• Process and building materials industry
Our research priorities
• Novel control and integration architectures for automation technology
• Distributed and reliable machine learning (federated learning)
• Intelligent robotics and agent-based autonomous systems
• Sustainable and resource-efficient production networks
• New concepts for human-machine collaboration
• Digital twin – a digital representation of the entire production process
Unique research environment: SmartFactory-KL
With the SmartFactory-KL, IFS has a vendor-neutral, realistic model factory that serves as a testing and demonstration environment.
Here, we validate new technologies under industrial conditions—in collaboration with a strong international network of industry and academic partners.
Impact in practice
Our projects deliver measurable results, for example:
• Increased efficiency through autonomous control architectures
• Reduced material waste
• Lower energy consumption
• Scalable AI systems for multiple production lines
• Integration of digital twins into real-world brownfield manufacturing environments
We view research more as a transfer to industrial application.
Management
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Ruskowski
Deputy Head
Dr.-Ing. Achim Wagner
Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Rüdiger Dabelow
Contact
Office:
Jasmin Germies
Phone: +49 631 20575 1055
ifs-info@dfki.de
Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz GmbH (DFKI)
Research Department Innovative Factory Systems
Trippstadter Str. 122
67663 Kaiserslautern
Germany
