The CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology (CIRP-JMST) publishes fundamental papers on manufacturing processes, production equipment and automation, product design, manufacturing systems and production organisations up to the level of the production networks, including all the related technical, human and economic factors. Preference is given to contributions describing research results whose feasibility has been demonstrated either in a laboratory or in the industrial praxis. Case studies and review papers on specific issues in manufacturing science and technology are equally encouraged.