Educational Programs in Between Design and Supply Chain. Significant Examples of Academia-SMEs Joint Labs in Italy

Furniture manufacturing in Italy is based on interconnected small and medium-sized enterprises based on craftsmanship know-how. Focus: These companies have undertaken profound transformations within the production chain in a logic of advanced craftsmanship, integrating enabling technologies into high-quality craftsmanship processes. This transformation is aiming at shaping intelligent enterprises and it requires new design professionals able to work with systemic view, connecting design competencies to an overview on the supply chain issues. Report: In this context, academia-industry joint programs could train design managers able to understand, acquire and integrate the tangible and intangible values of manufacturing culture and technological innovations. The research reports on joint labs cases studies in between Academia and SMEs that aimed at defining innovative design paths based on digitalization of production and production management. Argue: The presented experiences highlight on how the overall training systems provided by the university could represent a significant booster within the entire digitization process and innovation management. In fact, the laboratories have been involved within specific production steps of the companies.