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This article analyzes the state of research on robotic process automation (RPA) in the steel industry and proposes a classification of RPA applications in this context. The study employed a systematic literature review methodology and used the Scopus and Web of Science databases, complemented by industry materials. The data cover the period from 2000 to 2025. The search results show that, despite a relatively large number of publications on RPA in general (799 items in Scopus and 758 items in Web of Science), publications referring directly to the steel industry are scarce (1 item in Scopus and none in Web of Science) and take the form of single case studies. To address this gap, a three-dimensional classification of RPA applications in the steel industry is proposed, synthesizing general RPA capabilities with the specific requirements of metallurgical production management. The dimensions comprise: process area, process type, and level of advancement. This original classification organizes dispersed examples and provides a structured approach for implementing digital bots in metallurgical business processes. The article concludes by identifying the need for further empirical research to validate and refine the proposed framework in real-world industrial environments.
Keywords: robotic process automation (RPA), steel industry, information systems, production engineering, application classification, systematic literature review© This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.