President
The president guides IALF’s strategic direction, represents the learning factory community, and chairs the General Assembly. This role encompasses coordinating activities and managing external representation.
Prof. Sebastian Thiede — University of Twente, The Netherlands (Learning Factory University of Twente).
Research focus: smart manufacturing via Cyber-Physical Production Systems, factory planning methods, innovative manufacturing concepts, sustainable manufacturing, and human factors in production.
Contact: s.thiede@utwente.nl
Vice-President
The vice-president oversees the Presidential Committee and provides support to the IALF president.
Prof. Rafiq Ahmad — University of Alberta, Canada (AllFactory).
Focus: sustainable Aquaponics 4.0 systems, automation and AI technologies, green technologies alongside lean production methods.
Contact: rafiq.ahmad@ualberta.ca
General Secretary
An appointee from the president’s institution who assists leadership and the Presidential Committee.
Sri Kolla — University of Twente, The Netherlands.
Contact: s.kolla@utwente.nl