Italian manufacturing: marrying innovation with a culture of beauty
Interview with Antonio Alunni
In the pages of the foreign press, Italy often receives coverage in news stories focusing on art and culture. But this image – explains Antonio Alunni of aerospace components manufacturer Fucine Umbre – needs to be harnessed in aid of boosting the profile of Italian industry. Indeed, Italian manufacturing is heir to a tradition of culture, history, and beauty, first embodied in extraordinary works of skilled craftsmanship, as testified by the treasures that grace Italy’s cities. Today, however, this is manifested through innovation, as required by an increasingly competitive global market.
Is Italy a country capable of producing innovation?
Yes, I am convinced it is. Italy has a robust and innovative manufacturing base, as demonstrated by the balance of trade, which clearly points to Italian industry’s prime global positioning. Italy is undoubtedly a country where innovation is generated and whose human capital is adept at reading market trends. This, of course, applies to the private sector. In the public sector, however, innovation struggles to make inroads, with negative effects on the country’s GDP. In short, media coverage of Italy does not always get the full picture across, and often does not allow the innovative excellence which exists in many market-leading manufacturing and industrial sectors to emerge into the limelight. It should be remembered that, whatever the common perception might be, a key factor of this market leadership is the Italian flair for innovation.
Is it possible that the marketing power of the traditional Made in Italy industries is keeping more innovative sectors out of the spotlight?
It’s possible. And this is precisely why we need to better communicate the innovative strength of Italian manufacturing. The world is familiar with our fortes: Italy is certainly portrayed as a country of art and culture. But this image needs to be harnessed in aid of boosting the profile of the country’s industry: Italian manufacturing is heir to a tradition of culture, history and beauty. For that matter, Italy has always been a place where things were made, first through skilled craftsmanship – as can be seen from the monuments and art all around us – and then through the innovation befitting a great industrial nation. Today, our task is to endeavor to make the world fully appreciate Italy’s potential.
What opportunities can Italian industry offer to new generations?
Industry must lead the way in the country’s development. And history has shown that it is within industry that quality jobs are created. Outside industry, the labor market today is increasingly precarious, with very low levels of pay offered. Industrial firms, however, cannot afford to scrimp on people in such a competitive market. Today, no one can say with certainty whether Industry 4.0 will have a positive or negative net employment effect. There are opposing theories on this. I am optimistic: just as previous industrial revolutions swept away jobs that no longer reflected current market needs, I think the same will happen this time. It’s a complicated matter, but it would not be conceivable for our industry to eschew technology. To reconcile innovation and employment, we need to train up a much more resilient and better-skilled workforce – efforts which cannot help but depend on people having the skills ensured by a solid educational grounding.
In the case of Fucine Umbre, has the local industrial bent been an enabler for innovation?
We exist because where we are based has industrial as well as iron and steel leanings. For Fucine Umbre, this local specialty has been a real enabling factor. Innovation came later, but it was key to the survival of the company, including through difficult economic times. We are continuing on this path, attempting to understand which way the market will go. The fact is, innovation is not just to do with machinery, plant and equipment, or organizational models – it’s also about trying to provide the market with what it doesn’t have yet.
