HPLC method development is frequently a time consuming process which requires tests of different columns, mobile phases and other conditions to provide a reliable and robust method to be used for impurities profiling or quality control analyses.In this presentation we describe how time for method development can be reduced substantially by utilising automated method development and robustness tests software.The ChromSwordAuto(R) and AutoRobust software combined with Agilent 1200 method development systems can study retention behaviour of compounds in a mixture for different columns as a function of composition of the mobile phase, temperature, and other method variables fully automatically.The system supports column/solvents screening, rapid and fine optimizations, and robustness studies.