Digitalization and Resilience Strategies in Italian Furniture Manufacturing Districts. Quarrata (Tuscany) Case Study

Furniture manufacturing in Italy is based on interconnected SMEs based on craftsmanship know-how. During the past decade, these companies presented significant transformations within the production chain integrating enabling technologies into high-quality craftsmanship. This change has been based on supports from European Commission and local institutions enhancing digitalization. The research focuses on furniture production clusters in Tuscany (Italy) and, in particular, on Quarrata district. Even if several international analysts report on a scarce diffusion of technological skills in Italian SMEs, Tuscany area includes significant case studies that present digital integrations to the supply chain, structuring resilience strategies. The paper presents a joint project Industry-Academia on Quarrata cluster, including researchers and students. The team analysed significant supply chains about the grade of digitalization among the companies of the same production network. Then, the study proposed specific reorganization guidelines through the introduction of digital systems both on production reorganization and new design directions

Genius Loci and Emerging Sustainable Fashion Strategies: Two Significant Case-Histories in Italy and Tunisia

The contemporary fashion supply chain is part of the Global Value Chains (GVCs), the organization of production, trade and investments across different countries. Then, authentic genius loci is often replaced by fluidly-applied signifiers extremely simplified. Considering the recent trends in fashion, several strategic opportunities for SMEs connected to their cultural heritage and artisanal know-how should be considered. In particular, the new value of sustainability and regenerative design in production processes. The research paper presents two significant examples from Italy and Tunisia. The first one is Prato textile district, Italy, known for its wool textile manufacture, existing since medieval times and in particular for regenerated wool processes called Cardato. Based upon this know-how, Prato SMEs offer to market fashion leaders an eco-friendly product in line with emerging sustainable trends. Today, emerging sustainable business models in the Fashion industry are increasingly evolving. In Prato, some SMEs have become part of international fashion events. Similarly, Tunisian brand Azalée reintroduced the straw weaving techniques in the contemporary fashion system. Azalée is conceived and designed based on local natural materials and culture, which is related to the craft of frond making originating from the palm leaves (called El-Jerid). This emerging brand entered the world of contemporary designers and has recently created exclusive eco-friendly baskets for l’Occitance-in-Province (The Reset collection)

Query Response TIME Comparison Nosqldb Mongodb with Sqldb Oracle

Penyimpanan data saat ini terdapat dua jenis yakni relational database dan non-relational database. Kedua jenis DBMS (Database Managemnet System) tersebut berbeda dalam berbagai aspek seperti per-formansi eksekusi query, scalability, reliability maupun struktur penyimpanan data. Kajian ini memiliki tujuan untuk mengetahui perbandingan performansi DBMS antara Oracle sebagai jenis relational data-base dan MongoDB sebagai jenis non-relational database dalam mengolah data terstruktur. Eksperimen dilakukan untuk mengetahui perbandingan performansi kedua DBMS tersebut untuk operasi insert, select, update dan delete dengan menggunakan query sederhana maupun kompleks pada database Northwind. Untuk mencapai tujuan eksperimen, 18 query yang terdiri dari 2 insert query, 10 select query, 2 update query dan 2 delete query dieksekusi. Query dieksekusi melalui sebuah aplikasi .Net yang dibangun sebagai perantara antara user dengan basis data. Eksperimen dilakukan pada tabel dengan atau tanpa relasi pada Oracle dan embedded atau bukan embedded dokumen pada MongoDB. Response time untuk setiap eksekusi query dibandingkan dengan menggunakan metode statistik. Eksperimen menunjukkan response time query untuk proses select, insert, dan update pada MongoDB lebih cepatdaripada Oracle. MongoDB lebih cepat 64.8 % untuk select query;MongoDB lebihcepat 72.8 % untuk insert query dan MongoDB lebih cepat 33.9 % untuk update query. Pada delete query, Oracle lebih cepat 96.8 % daripada MongoDB untuk table yang berelasi, tetapi MongoDB lebih cepat 83.8 % daripada Oracle untuk table yang tidak memiliki relasi.Untuk query kompleks dengan Map Reduce pada MongoDB lebih lambat 97.6% daripada kompleks query dengan aggregate function pada Oracle

Emerging Branding Strategies and Value Creation Through Product Service System in SMEs

Value creation is a significant key factor in branding strategies. Currently SMEs have a significant place in the worldwide development for each national economy and they can provide interesting branding processes. Product Service System (PSS) is gathering tangible and intangible features related to this topic. While the tangible features include the company products, whereas services can be considered among intangible features. In this paper, authors discussed on the role of PSS in brand values creation in the area of furniture industry SMEs. In particular, the study focuses on the definition of PSS mainly related to branding and how digitalizalization effect company assets. The research analyses Lago Design brand as a case study among the emerging European SMEs investigating on the effects of digital services in value creation and on the rising success of the company even during the COVID-19 pandemic era

Shaping Emotions: a Study about the Feeling of Loneliness through the Material Interaction with Surfaces

This contribution aims to investigate how design culture can foster new models of emotional, social and cultural interaction that find in the pleasantness of the surface the creation of valuable experiences for users. In particular, the research examines interaction design from a different point of view, studying the relation of emotions and surfaces in a product-based interaction experience. Specifically, the contribution presents the results of a workshop called shaping emotions: a formal exercise based on the understanding of how user sensations - without precise references on a particular product - can play a decisive role in defining strategies that embrace the aesthetic and typological sphere of use and meanings. This study has highlighted the transfer of intangible psycho-cognitive aspects into tangible elements whose syntax and semiotics is driven by a phenomenological approach to the formal interpretation of an emotional concept. Emotions that occur from experiential states place the feelings of the human being as a focus of the project; through the design culture, the study tries to interpret experiences and desires as components of mixed emotions

Savoir Faire and Innovation: Place-Based Design Heritage in undergraduate education

The concept of craftsmanship (it. Saper fare, fr. Savoir faire) means "knowing how to do things," including the arts and skills of doing, knowledge of the materials and craft processes. When this knowledge meets innovation - without to delete it - then we speak about advanced craftsmanship. Surviving of production systems in some European areas derive from this synergy between historical artisan knowledge based in specific places and advanced manufacturing processes. High-end industrialized processes are ofetn based on craftsmanship. Prototyping and hand made finishing are crucial in advanced machines setting and production planning to get the final artefact quality. Craftamanship in contemporary product manufacturing is not easly understandable for the students. In particular, Design process informed by artisan know–how, including genius loci and cultural heritage is a very difficult study; the appearance of the modern production instruments are often covering the craftman human value. An immersive experience of students in craft-based industrial process can highlight this historical heritage. University of Florence, DIDA department, structured joint labs between Product Design Course and advanded craftsmanship manufacturers in Tuscany production districs. A team of students - in 6 months cycles – is included in the company technical departments, making the scholars aware of connections between historical artisanal proctices and innovation processes

The relationship between Unions and Innovation in Chile

This article examines how and to what extent unions affect companies’ innovation in Chile. It contributes to the existing literature in the following two aspects: First, because it widens the scope of analysis focusing in a developing country that is characterized by some specificities regarding the innovation as well the union landscape. Second, because it provides more in-depth analysis, taking into account the effect of unions on the four different types of innovation proposed in the Oslo Manual by OECD. Results show that unions do not affect product and process innovation while influence organizational innovation and marketing in a non-linear wa

The impact of educational technologies in higher education

The formation of human capital is key to countries’ social, cultural, and economic development. The current literature review pays considerable attention to the ever-increasing proliferation of technology in the careers of college and school graduates. While the presence of educational technology in higher education offers multiple benefits, its implementation also presents challenges. In that sense, the literature has considered multiple tools for improving learning processes. However, the results of such tools vary and are difficult to measure in terms of quality. In this literature review, we analyze the issues surrounding educational technology in higher education.La formación de capital humano es clave para el desarrollo social, cultural y económico de los países. Esta revisión de literatura presta una atención considerable a la introducción cada vez mayor de la tecnología en las carreras universitarias y en las escuelas de posgrados. Si bien la presencia de tecnología educativa en la educación superior ofrece múltiples beneficios, su implementación también presenta desafíos. En ese sentido, la literatura ha considerado múltiples herramientas para mejorar los procesos de aprendizaje. Ahora bien, los resultados de estas herramientas varían y son difíciles de medir en términos de calidad. En esta revisión de la literatura, analizamos los problemas que rodean la tecnología educativa en la educación superiorA formação de capital humano é fundamental para o desenvolvimento social, cultural e econômico dos países. Esta revisão de literatura presta uma atenção considerável à introdução cada vez maior da tecnologia nas carreiras universitárias e nas escolas de pós-graduações. Embora a presença de tecnologia educativa na educação superior ofereça múltiplos benefícios, sua implementação também apresenta desafios. Nesse sentido, a literatura tem considerado múltiplas ferramentas para melhorar os processos de aprendizagem. Agora bem, os resultados destas ferramentas variam e são difíceis de medir em termos de qualidade. Nesta revisão da literatura, analisamos os problemas que rodeiam a tecnologia educativa na educação superio

Advanced Craftsmanship. Maestria Avanzata. Percorsi di progetto tra innovazione e tradizione artigianale nei sistemi manifatturieri toscani

La ricerca parte da un’analisi quantitativa e qualitativa delle istanze economiche e della cultura d’impresa del modello manifatturiero toscano, alla luce della particolare congiuntura economica e organizzativa che la rete dell’artigianato regionale si trova ad affrontare. Oltre al quadro d’insieme della situazione produttiva di questa porzione territoriale, l’analisi si sofferma sui nuovi modelli organizzativi della filiera e dei network di attori della manifattura locale. Nell’ambito delle strategie di prodotto e di processo manifatturiero avanzato, si individuano casi di eccellenza in atto tra ricerca nazionale e modelli di innovazione internazionali, che connettono nuove tecnologie e abilità storicizzate dei distretti manifatturieri

Lean-ing method in an emergency department of the italian epicenter of the covid-19 outbreak: When the algorithm makes difference

The Lean method entails a set of standardized processes intending to optimize resources, reduce waste, and improve results. Lean has been proposed as an operative model for the Covid-19 outbreak. Herein, we summarized data resulted from the Lean model adoption in an Emergency Department of the Lombardy region, the Italian epicenter of the pandemic, to critically appraise its effectiveness and feasibility. The Lean algorithm was applied in the Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital, Milan, north of Italy. At admission, patients underwent outdoor pre-triage for fe-ver, respiratory, and gastrointestinal symptoms, with a focus on SpO2. Based on these data, they were directed to the most appropriate area for the Covid-19 first-level screening. High-risk patients were assisted by trained staff for second-level screening and planning of treatment. Out of 7.778 patients, 21.9% were suspected of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mortality was 21.9% and the infection rate in health workers was 4.8%. The lean model has proved to be effective in optimizing the overall management of Covid-19 patients in an emergency setting. It allowed for screening of a large volume of patients, while also limiting the health workers’ infection rate. Further studies are necessary to validate the suggested approach