scholarly journals Upgrading Italy's Industrial Capacity: Industry 4.0 across Regions and Sectors

Sinappsi ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 14-35
Author(s):  
Valeria Cirillo ◽  
Lucrezia Fanti ◽  
Andrea Mina ◽  
Andrea Ricci

How are Industry 4.0 investments distributed across Italian regions and sectors? Which are the main drivers of diffusion? To address these questions, in this study we exploit rich firm survey data on the adoption of the new digital technologies and examine their adoption patterns. On the one hand, we produce novel insights into the drivers of structural change in the Italian economy, and on the other, we provide evidence on the technological upgrading of Italy's production capacity that is relevant for policy. The results of econometric tests on region-sector pairs indicate that corporate governance characteristics, innovation patterns and type of industrial relations are significant predictors of the uneven regional and sectoral distribution of Industry 4.0 investments.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Lepore ◽  
Alessandra Micozzi ◽  
Francesca Spigarelli

An unpredictable shock hit the Italian economy in February 2020 when the spread of the COVID-19 virus began in Italy and other countries worldwide. In this context, Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies can be a fundamental tool for economic recovery by favouring the shift towards sustainable manufacturing. Therefore, it is necessary to measure the readiness of countries for I4.0 in order to guide policies in defining incentives to promote I4.0 and unlock its potential in the pandemic era. In this context, the paper aims to understand the readiness and responsiveness of the Italian Regions with respect to I4.0 concepts prior to the pandemic and identify best practices that are supporting companies in I4.0 adoption, with a focus on those incentivizing sustainable practices. An assessment framework before the pandemic is provided based on two dimensions: the readiness of firms to invest in I4.0 and favourable structural conditions. The assessment shows a group of alert regions as opposed to a group of unprepared, mostly linked Northern and Southern differences. Assuming that the “alert regions” are more likely to effectively manage and overcome the post- COVID-19 crisis, we provide a picture of how the Italian Regions have sought to encourage the adoption of digital technologies to improve resilience after the shock. The analysis shows that supporting measures mainly address Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Furthermore, the tenders encouraging the adoption of I4.0 suggest that collaboration among stakeholders will become imperative.


Information ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 222
Author(s):  
Piotr Marciniak ◽  
Robert Stanisławski

As part of the assumptions of Industry 4.0. many modern technologies are developing. One of them is robotic process automation (RPA). It allows the replacement of human labor with robots, thus increasing the production capacity of enterprises. In practice, the implementation of RPA takes place through two solutions (models): using the services of an external entity offering RPA (service insourcing) or creating your own center of excellence (CoE). The use of both solutions is influenced by numerous conditions (determinants), among which we can mention benefits on the one hand and threats on the other. They are very different and depend on the model used. In this article, attempts were made to identify and determine their impact on the selection of the appropriate model from the point of view of the company (the purpose of the article). The research used two cases of entities implementing RPA on the basis of opposites, i.e., two different models, in which the discussed technology is treated as an important element of their automation. The achieved results indicate that there is no universalism, and their dominant feature is individualism concerning both enterprises and the solutions they implement. This is undoubtedly the effect of the currently too shallow RPA market, as well as the small number of entities using technologies based on intelligent systems. This is a serious research gap, which along with RPA growth will be reduced as a result of more and more intensive research in this field.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 377-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antti Liljaniemi ◽  
Heikki Paavilainen

AbstractDigital Twin (DT) technology is an essential technology related to the Industry 4.0. In engineering education, it is important that the curricula are kept up-to-date. By adopting new digital technologies, such as DT, we can provide new knowledge for students, teachers, and companies. The main aim of this research was to create a course concept to research benefits and barriers of DT technology in engineering education. The research confirmed earlier findings concerning digitalization in engineering education. DT technology can increase motivation for studying and improve learning when applied correctly.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 240
Author(s):  
Sarah Humboldt-Dachroeden ◽  
Alberto Mantovani

Background: One Health is a comprehensive and multisectoral approach to assess and examine the health of animals, humans and the environment. However, while the One Health approach gains increasing momentum, its practical application meets hindrances. This paper investigates the environmental pillar of the One Health approach, using two case studies to highlight the integration of environmental considerations. The first case study pertains to the Danish monitoring and surveillance programme for antimicrobial resistance, DANMAP. The second case illustrates the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk in dairy-producing ruminants in Italian regions. Method: A scientific literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science to locate articles informing the two cases. Grey literature was gathered to describe the cases as well as their contexts. Results: 19 articles and 10 reports were reviewed and informed the two cases. The cases show how the environmental component influences the apparent impacts for human and animal health. The DANMAP highlights the two approaches One Health and farm to fork. The literature provides information on the comprehensiveness of the DANMAP, but highlights some shortcomings in terms of environmental considerations. The AFM1 case, the milk metabolite of the carcinogenic mycotoxin aflatoxin B1, shows that dairy products are heavily impacted by changes of the climate as well as by economic drivers. Conclusions: The two cases show that environmental conditions directly influence the onset and diffusion of hazardous factors. Climate change, treatment of soils, water and standards in slaughterhouses as well as farms can have a great impact on the health of animals, humans and the environment. Hence, it is important to include environmental considerations, for example, via engaging environmental experts and sharing data. Further case studies will help to better define the roles of environment in One Health scenarios.


Author(s):  
Antonio Sartal ◽  
Diego Carou ◽  
Rubén Dorado-Vicente ◽  
Lorenzo Mandayo

Our research explores how additive manufacturing can support the food industry in facing its current global challenges. Although information technologies are usually highlighted as the main driver of the Industry 4.0 concept, which was first introduced during the Hannover Fair event in 2011, we posit that additive manufacturing can be the true generator of a sustainable competitive advantage in this sector. This evidence stems from a case study in a plant of one of the world’s largest fishing multinational companies. Our results show how, through robotic claw optimization using three-dimensional printing, we not only reduce the manufacturing costs but also increase the flexibility of the line and reduce time to market. On the one hand, our findings should encourage managers to test this technology at their facilities; on the other hand, policymakers should promote the adoption of additive manufacturing, highlighting the potential of this technology within the Industry 4.0 context.


PARADIGMA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-217
Author(s):  
Luis Andrés Castillo ◽  
Juan Luis Prieto G. ◽  
Ivonne C. Sánchez ◽  
Rafael Enrique Gutiérrez

En los últimos años, los profesores han tratado cada vez más de utilizar los recursos didácticos para apoyar sus clases, un hecho que se ha agregado con la llegada de las tecnologías digitales. En este contexto surgió la tendencia de que los profesores se convirtieran en creadores de este tipo de recursos, pero dejando de lado la sistematización y el deber de compartir con sus compañeros la experiencia de desarrollar este tipo de recursos. Por esta razón, el presente trabajo describe una experiencia concreta de elaborar un simulador con el software GeoGebra para estudiar una situación de tiro libre en el fútbol, utilizando nociones de movimiento parabólico. La elaboración del simulador incluye la resolución de siete "tareas de simulación", que destacan los objetos y los procesos matemáticos que justifican las técnicas de construcción utilizadas por los autores. Finalmente, se presentan algunas reflexiones derivadas de la experiencia de desarrollo del simulador, que consideran, por un lado, el conocimiento matemático movilizado en la producción del simulador y, por otro lado, las acciones y capacidades requeridas para tal elaboración.AbstractIn recent years, teachers have increasingly sought the use of didactic resources to support their classes, a fact that has been added with the arrival of digital technologies. In this context, the tendency has emerged that teachers have become creators of this type of resources, but leaving aside the systematization and the duty to share with their peers the experience of developing this type of resources. For this reason, the present work describes a concrete experience of developing a simulator with GeoGebra software for the study of a situation of free kick in football, using notions of parabolic movement. The elaboration of the simulator includes the resolution of seven "simulation tasks", which highlight the objects and mathematical processes that should justify the construction techniques used by the authors. Finally, some reflections derived from the simulator development experience are presented, which consider, on the one hand, the mathematical knowledge mobilized in the production of the simulator and, on the other hand, the actions and capabilities required for such an elaboration.ResumoNos últimos anos, professores têm procurado cada vez mais o uso de recursos didáticos para apoiar suas aulas, fato que foi acrescentado com a chegada das tecnologias digitais. Nesse contexto surgiu a tendência que os professores se tornaram criadores desse tipo de recursos, mas deixando de lado a sistematização e o dever de dividir com seus pares a experiência de desenvolver este tipo de recursos. Por este motivo, o presente trabalho descreve uma experiência concreta de elaboração de um simulador com o software GeoGebra para o estudo de uma situação do tiro livre no futebol, utilizando noções do movimento parabólico. A elaboração do simulador inclui a resolução de sete “tarefas de simulação”, que destacam os objetos e processos matemáticos que devem justificar as técnicas de construção utilizadas pelos autores. Finalmente, apresentam-se algumas reflexões derivadas da experiência de desenvolvimento do simulador, que consideram, por um lado, o conhecimento matemático mobilizado na produção do simulador e, por outro lado, as ações e capacidades necessárias para tal elaboração. 


Author(s):  
Florian Butollo ◽  
Lea Schneidemesser

The “Industry 4.0” paradigm is present in the strategy of governments, employers' associations and trade union federations. Revisiting Piore and Sabel's classic study on flexible specialisation, we criticise the one-sidedness and narrowness inherent in the discourse of Industry 4.0, to which we counter empirical analyses on decentralised factory networks. Contrary to the prevailing stylised account, flexibility is facilitated by “B2B” platforms that link manufacturers and customers – a model that relies more on the versatility of decentralised manufacturing networks than on sophisticated production technology. The effects on labour are ambivalent, as they involve both potential for a small-scale, skilled-labour-intensive manufacturing paradigm, and dangers arising from competitive pressure for cost reduction. In sum, our aim is to offer theoretical and empirical evidence for understanding changes in digitised manufacturing and to highlight the approach of “B2B” networks and platforms in the debate on the transformation of manufacturing and industrial work.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-140
Author(s):  
Alexandr A. Antonov ◽  
Polina E. Ivanenko ◽  
Alexander V. Chernov

The article presents technological solutions for setting up land plots for cadastral registration using modern stereophotogrammetric methods. Based on the current state of the unified state register of real estate, and the current level of development of digital technologies, and the availability of software, we believe that the actual raster foundation created by the cadastral engineer is needed. That will allow to determine and confirm the fact of the presence of a registry error in office conditions and to predict.


Author(s):  
Francesca Fauri

AbstractThe possibility of enlarging Italy’s export market was the key factor that made industrialists repeatedly express their consent for a unified market, even in their earliest statements on the matter. The great majority of Italian business declared itself in favour of a united market dependent upon a given set of conditions: gradual abolition of tariffs, leveling of production costs among members, free circulation of workers (as well as of goods and capital) and inclusion in the Treaty of Art.109 on the resumption of tariff controls or measures of safeguard where a sudden crisis in the balance of payments occurs.The policy of Italian business towards EEC integration in those years was the result of a compromise between protectionist sectors (small-medium firms) on the one hand and, on the other, firms belonging to the so-called automobile cycle (Fiat, Pirelli etc.) and the engineering sector, whose growth had been led by export demand and favoured opening up the Italian economy to international competition.Once the Treaty of Rome was signed, there were issues that Italian industrialists did not like. However, on the whole, participation was never called into question and, despite a few skeptical voices, Italian business valued European integration as a unique opportunity to enlarge the market, increase foreign demand and improve competitiveness. The Italian economic miracle had begun to take shape.


Author(s):  
Irina A. Gerasimova ◽  

The article combines historical, cultural and systematic approaches to the analysis of digital transformations of society and man. Digital technologies play a crucial role in the transformation of economy, politics and society at the new stage of technologization. Developments and strategic projects for the introduction of arti­ficial intelligence, robotics, augmented and hybrid realities are implemented not only in the areas of dangerous, labor-intensive and routine work (i.e. in military affairs, industry, financial and economic operations), but also in the intellectual and creative spheres. The global time of change requires a global-system analysis. The invention of high information technologies and the interest of big business in the one-sided technologization of society disrupted the balanced co-evolution of computer technology and society. The author offers a noo-eco-geosystem ap­proach to the analysis of the crisis of technogenic civilization and the search for ways out of it. The complex grid of coordinates of the analysis includes planetary-physical, geo-ecological, geopolitical, geo-economical, geo-social, national socio-cultural, ethical and anthropological dimensions. The noo-eco-geosystem ap­proach makes it possible to reveal the catastrophic risks of digital economy and society strategies. The author considers energy and information and communica­tion technologies as catalysts for the accelerated transformation of society and the individual. These catalysts allow us to identify both the negative and positive as­pects of the global processes of evolution, as well as the “positive in the nega­tive”. The system analysis of digital transformations of society and man assumes consideration of methodological aspects of opportunities and limitations of tech­nologies. The destructive and purifying character of the transformations of nature and society is considered as a self-organizing process of the formation of the global world order, the future picture of the world and the qualitative transforma­tions of the mind on the basis of the values of noospheric ethics and geosociality


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