"Riviera del Brenta footwear companies between tradition and innovation: the solution is beyond the product"

Abstract

This thesis deals with the fourth industrial revolution and its consequences on manufacturing production, relying on technologies that have revolutionized the traditional enterprise. My main interest will be Italy and the effects of the change on the multitude of SMEs that characterize the manufacturing fabric of our country, with a focus on the existing district realities. I will try to understand if new technologies will bring advantages to the Italian economy, even though the recent economic crisis has played an important role in delaying the efforts to innovate of many Italian SMEs. Moreover, I will support this idea, highlighting how digital manufacturing represents the solution to the relaunch of the Italian economy. An in depth will be carried out on the new initiatives, at the educational level, that are being developed in Italy to promote the knowledge of new technologies and a new approach to the world of work especially among youngsters. The focus will be shifted to the Italian footwear sector; in particular, I will concentrate on the Riviera del Brenta footwear district, and on Politecnico Calzaturiero, considered the flagship of the district footwear tradition, for its closeness with the companies of the district, and for its ability to offer training and innovation & research projects for district’s companies. Finally, I will consider real business cases of Riviera del Brenta SMEs to highlight how, in a traditional district, the adoption of innovative process technologies, thanks to a cutting edge vision of their owners and to the collaboration with Politecnico Calzaturiero, has brought advantages to the interviewed companies in terms of efficiency, production and customer relationship.