PERFoRM · Project

Plug-and-Produce System That Lets Factories Reconfigure Robots and Machines in Minutes

manufacturingPilotedTRL 7

horizon2020-perform.eu

Imagine your factory floor works like USB devices on a computer — you plug in a new machine or robot and it just works, no weeks of reprogramming needed. PERFoRM built middleware and smart algorithms that let production lines reconfigure themselves when business needs change or something breaks down. They tested this across four real factory floors in different industries, coordinated by Siemens. The goal: stop losing weeks of production every time you need to switch what you're making.

By the numbers

industrial testbeds deployed across different domains

consortium partners across 6 countries

EUR 7,094,095

EU contribution for development and validation

industry partners in the consortium

SMEs participating in the project

total project deliverables produced

minimum designated experimental testbeds for deployment optimization

The business problem

What needed solving

Factories lose days or weeks of production every time they need to reconfigure machines and robots for a new product, a design change, or an equipment swap. Traditional production lines are rigid — every change requires manual reprogramming, testing, and integration work by specialized engineers. As product lifecycles shorten and customization demands grow, this rigidity becomes a serious competitive disadvantage.

The solution

What was built

PERFoRM built a manufacturing middleware platform that wraps production resources into plug-and-produce modules, along with modular monitoring and optimization algorithms for rapid reconfiguration. The project delivered 26 deliverables including KPI visualization and monitoring tools, decision rule engines, and standardized interoperability protocols — all validated across 4 industrial testbeds in different manufacturing domains.

Audience

Who needs this

Automotive OEMs and tier-1 suppliers running high-mix assembly linesContract electronics manufacturers handling frequent product changeoversIndustrial automation integrators and machine buildersProduction managers at discrete manufacturing plants with legacy equipmentEV battery and component manufacturers scaling up new production variants

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Automotive Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Car and EV component manufacturers running mixed-model assembly lines

If you are an automotive manufacturer dealing with frequent model changeovers and increasing EV variant complexity — this project developed a plug-and-produce middleware tested across 4 industrial testbeds that lets you reconfigure robots and machinery rapidly without full-line shutdowns. The system was validated by a consortium of 18 partners including Siemens, meaning it was designed for real factory-floor constraints.

Electronics Assembly

mid-size

Target: Contract electronics manufacturers handling short production runs

If you are a contract electronics manufacturer dealing with small batch sizes and constant product switching — this project built modular monitoring and optimization algorithms that enable seamless reconfiguration of production resources. With 9 industry partners validating the approach and at least 2 dedicated experimental testbeds, the system was specifically designed to handle the heterogeneous equipment mix typical in electronics assembly.

Industrial Automation & Systems Integration

any

Target: Automation integrators and machine builders selling to discrete manufacturers

If you are a systems integrator struggling with long commissioning times every time a customer changes their production setup — this project created standardized methods and protocols for plug-and-produce interoperability across different machine vendors. Backed by EUR 7,094,095 in EU funding and coordinated by Siemens, the platform addresses the exact integration pain points that eat into your project margins.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this plug-and-produce system in my factory?

The project received EUR 7,094,095 in EU funding across 18 partners over 3 years to develop and validate the platform. Implementation costs for your facility would depend on your existing equipment and integration complexity. Contact SciTransfer for a tailored assessment connecting you with the consortium's expertise.

Has this been tested at industrial scale or only in a lab?

PERFoRM deployed its system across 4 industrial testbeds belonging to different industrial domains, plus at least 2 additional designated experimental testbeds. This was an Innovation Action (IA), which in EU funding terms means the focus was on near-market validation, not basic research.

Who owns the IP and can I license this technology?

The consortium includes Siemens AG as coordinator along with 9 industry partners and 6 SMEs across 6 countries. IP ownership typically follows EU grant rules where each partner owns what they developed. Based on available project data, licensing arrangements would need to be discussed directly with the relevant consortium partners.

How does this integrate with my existing legacy equipment?

The project specifically addressed migration of legacy environments to the plug-and-produce approach, including coexistence and integration of existing systems where standard devices remain. This was a core design requirement, not an afterthought — the consortium recognized that no factory can replace everything at once.

How long does reconfiguration actually take compared to traditional methods?

The project developed KPI-based operational and performance measuring tools to track reconfiguration speed and system behavior. Based on available project data, specific time reduction figures would need to be confirmed with the consortium, but the entire system was designed for rapid and seamless reconfiguration as a response to operational or business events.

Is this compatible with existing automation standards and protocols?

Harmonization and standardization of methods and protocols was an explicit project objective to enable plug-and-produce readiness in heterogeneous environments. The system was built on existing concepts including service-based architectures and cloud services, prioritizing interoperability across different vendor equipment.

What kind of ongoing support or training is available?

The consortium of 18 partners across 6 countries includes 5 universities and 4 research organizations alongside 9 industry players. Based on available project data, the project ended in September 2018, but consortium members including Siemens likely continue related commercial activities. SciTransfer can help identify the right contact for your needs.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a heavyweight industrial consortium led by Siemens AG, one of the world's largest automation companies, with 18 partners spread across 6 countries (Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, UK). The 50% industry ratio with 9 industry partners and 6 SMEs signals this was built for commercial reality, not academic theory. Having 5 universities and 4 research organizations provides strong technical depth. For a business buyer, the Siemens coordination means the technology was developed with enterprise-grade manufacturing requirements in mind, and the multi-country, multi-domain testbed approach increases confidence that results transfer across different factory environments.

SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTCoordinator · DE
AEA s.r.l.participant · IT
INTERACTIVE FULLY ELECTRICAL VEHICLES SRLparticipant · IT
TECHNOLOGIE - INITIATIVE SMARTFACTORY KL EVparticipant · DE
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET BRAUNSCHWEIGparticipant · DE
UNINOVA-INSTITUTO DE DESENVOLVIMENTO DE NOVAS TECNOLOGIAS-ASSOCIACAOparticipant · PT
BEKO ITALY MANUFACTURING SRLparticipant · IT
HOCHSCHULE EMDEN/LEERparticipant · DE
LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITYparticipant · UK
POLITECNICO DI MILANOparticipant · IT
INSTITUTO POLITECNICO DE BRAGANCAparticipant · PT
GKN AEROSPACE SWEDEN ABparticipant · SE
COMAU SPAparticipant · IT
THE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTRE LIMITEDparticipant · UK

How to reach the team

Siemens AG (Germany) coordinated this project. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to the right technical contact within the consortium.

Order a report on this consortium See SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to know if PERFoRM's plug-and-produce platform fits your production setup? SciTransfer can arrange a direct conversation with the consortium team and provide a tailored feasibility brief.

Order a report on this topic More in Manufacturing & Industry 4.0