Tampere University of Technology maintains a Department of Production Engineering that engages in research. Its present focus is on laser research and its micro-factory concept.

As a complement to this research, the Department also operates FAST (Factory Automation Systems and Technologies lab. This facility considers how to identify, model, program, control, validate, verify, orchestrate, choreograph and architect manufacturing systems.

In particular, factory automation makes it possible to build the next generation of Intelligent Manufacturing Systems, with a special focus on the important role of applied Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).